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61 -^— } HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES { D -^ U ^ T 


SPECIAL AGENTS SERIES-No. 34 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE 

IN 

AUSTRIA-HUNGARY, DENMARK, RUSSIA, 
AND NETHERLANDS 

WITH SUPPLEMENTARY REPORTS ON ITALY AND FRANCE 


GODFREY L. CARDEN 

Captain, U. S. Revenue-Cutter Service 

SPECIAL AGENT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND LABOR 


I 


May 14, 1910—Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means 
and ordered to be printed 


WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 
1910 


Transmitted to Congress in compliance 
with the Act of March 4,1909, authorizing 
investigations of trade conditions abroad 












































61 st Congress \ 
2d Session J 


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 


f Document 
\ No. 913 


SPECIAL AGENTS SERIES-No.34 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE 

IN 34 (/ 

AUSTRIA-HUNGARY, DENMARK, RUSSIA, 

AND NETHERLANDS 

WITH SUPPLEMENTARY REPORTS ON ITALY AND FRANCE 


By 

GODFREY L. CARDEN 

Captain, U. S. Revenue-Cutter Service 

SPECIAL AGENT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND LABOR 


Transmitted to Congress in compliance 
with the Act of March 4,1909, authorizing 
investigations of trade conditions abroad 


May 14, 1910.—Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means 
and ordered to be printed 


WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 
1910 






















Department of Commerce and Labor, 

Office of the Secretary, 

Washington , May 13 , 1910. 

Sir: In compliance with the act making appropriations for the legis¬ 
lative, executive, and judicial expenses of the Government for the 
fiscal year ending June 30, 1910, approved March 4, 1909, I have the 
honor to transmit herewith a report by Capt. Godfrey L. Carden, of 
the United States Revenue-Cutter Service, detailed as a special agent 
of this department, entitled “Machine-Tool Trade,” in which is con¬ 
tained the results of his investigations in Austria-Hungary, Denmark, 
Russia, Netherlands, Italy, and France. There is also transmitted a 
supplementary report by the same officer on the Machine-Tool Trade 
in Russia. 

Respectfully, Benj. S. Cable, 

Acting Secretary . 

The Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

2 


JUL 7 1910 

MSP fc 


* 


*• 77^3 // o 


CONTENTS. 


Page. 

Letter of submittal.. 5 

Introduction. 7 

Austria-Hungary. 8 

Introduction. 8 

Vulkan Works. 12 

Ernst Dania Works. 16 

Joh. Muller Works. 17 

State Railway Locomotive Works. 19 

Floridsdorf Locomotive Works. 22 

Wiener-Neustadt Locomotive Works. 28 

Daimler Works. 33 

Budapest Locomotive Works. 38 

' Ganz Works. 44 

Lang Works. 50 

Resicza Works. 56 

Bohemia-Moravia Machine Works. 66 

Breitfeld, Danek & Co. 70 

Ringhoffer Works. 76 

Witkowitz Works. 80 

Denmark. 93 

Introduction. 93 

Titan Works. 94 

Burmeister & Wain. 97 

Nielsen & Winther... 104 

Government Small-Arms Factory. 112 

Danish Rifle Works ... 114 

Government Ammunition Factory. 115 

Atlas Works.-.. 116 

Russia. . .-•. 119 

Gerlach & Pulst.. 119 

K. Rudzki & Co..,.. 122 

Rohn, Zielinski & Co. 125 

Borman, Szwede & Co. 127 

Pneumatic Tool Company. 130 

Singer Sewing Machine Works. 134 

J. A. Semenoff. 138 

Netherlands. 143 

Wilton Engineering and Slipway Company.:. 143 

Smulder Shipbuilding and Engineering Works. 146 

Fijenoord Ship and Engine Building Works. 151 

Nederlandsche Works. 154 

Schelde Shipbuilding and Engineering Works. 157 * 

Italy.-. 164 

Turin Automobile Works. 164 

Rome Arsenal. 166 

Terni Arsenal. 168 

France. 170 

Andre Citroen & Co. 170 

Sales methods.-. . 174 


3 




















































ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Page 

Fig. 1. Vulkan quick-return planer. 14 

2. Heavy motor-driven planing machine under test at Vulkan Works ... 15 

3. Motor-driven locomotive frame plate punching machine. 25 

4. Motor-driven locomotive frame slotting, boring, drilling, and milling 

machine. 26 

5. Series 210 locomotive. 27 

6. Double plate-planing machine. 29 

7. Hydraulic plate-bending machine. 30 

8. Armored cars. 33 

9. Military transport wagon. 34 

10. Military transport wagon using winding gear on grade. 35 

11. Military transport wagons. 36 

12. High-speed locomotive, type In. 42 

13. Generators in the Manojlovac power plant. 45 

14. Stator and coils of the 6,000-horsepower Manojlovac generator. 46 

15. The electric power installation at Manojlovac. 47 

16. Gas-producer plant at Resicza. 57 

17. Gas-motor plant at Resicza. 59 

18. Hydraulic flanging press. 71 

19. Cross compound engine using superheated steam. 72 

20. Lathe in machine-tool department of Breitfeld, Danek & Co.’s w T orks.. 72 

21. Universal armor-plate planing, cross-planing, and slotting machine_ 83 

22. Universal radial boring, drilling, tapping, and screwing machine. 88 

23. Heavy duplex boring and turning lathe. 90 

24. Interior view of shipbuilding hall, Smulders Works. 147 

25. Beiliss & Morcom engines in Fijenoord power plant. 152 

26. Vessel of 5,000 tons building on the Isherwood system. 158 

27. Shipyard cranes in the Schelde Works. 159 

28. Steam pipe made from solid forging. 160 

29. Citroen double helical gear in service. 172 

4 





























LETTER OF SUBMITTAL. 


Department of Commerce and Labor, 

Bureau of Manufactures, 

Washing ton, January 31 , 1910. 

Sir: I have the honor to submit herewith for transmission to 
Congress and publication a special report on the machine-tool trade 
of Austria-Hungary, Denmark, Russia, and Netherlands, with sup¬ 
plementary reports on Italy and France, by Special Agent Godfrey 
L. Carden, of the United States Revenue-Cutter Service, who was 
detailed for this work. Two reports, similar in character, have 
previously been submitted by Special Agent Carden and published. 
The first dealt with Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy, and the 
United Kingdom, and the second with Belgium. This third report 
completes his investigations in the European field. 

Respectfully, 

John M. Carson, 

Chief of Bureau. 

To Hon. Charles Nagel, 

Secretary of Commerce and Labor. 







MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY, DEN¬ 
MARK, RUSSIA, AND NETHERLANDS. 


INTRODUCTION. 

The reports comprising this monograph, part of which have been 
published by the Bureau of Manufactures in Daily Consular and 
t rade Reports, are observations based on a personal inspection by 
the writer of manufacturing plants in the countries visited, and on 
conferences with the active managers of these establishments and 
prominent commercial men. Owing to the limited time available it 
was impossible to inspect more than the representative establish¬ 
ments, which include not only plants for the manufacture of machine 
tools, but such concerns as are large users of them. 

All reports have been carefully viseed in advance, and no reports 
have been forwarded except with the written consent of the directors 
of the several works visited. This statement is made in order that 
the writer’s attitude with reference to these inspections may be 
thoroughly understood. His position is, and has been, that when an 
American officer is admitted to inspect one of these foreign plants 
he is for the time being the guest of the establishment and is in 
honor bound to make no mention of what he observes without the 
sanction of the directors. 

The writer has found the greatest readiness, as a rule, to furnish 
all information as requested in the various instructions of the 
Department of Commerce and Labor. He can not speak too highly 
of the cordiality extended on all sides, and avails himself of this 
opportunity to make acknowledgment of the many courtesies re¬ 
ceived at the several plants. 

There is an undeniable appreciation throughout the countries 
visited of the merit of American machine tools, and the reasons why 
there is not more American equipment in service are set forth in the 
views of the directors and managers of the various plants, as will be 
found in the respective reports. 

This monograph is the third written by the author on the machine- 
tool trade in European countries and completes his work in that field'. 
The first monograph, which was issued in January, 1909, gave the 
result of his inspection of establishments in Germany, France, Switzer¬ 
land, Italy, and the United Kingdom, and the second, issued in 
August, 1909, contained a report on the trade in Belgium. The three 
monographs together give a survey of the entire field, and contain not 
only suggestions as to possible markets for American machine tools 
but an idea of the character of competition manufacturers and 
exporters in the United States must meet. 


7 



AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 


INTRODUCTION. 

In 1908 Austria-Hungary imported machine tools from Germany 
to the extent of 9,216,100 kilos in weight (kilo=2.2 pounds), as com¬ 
pared with 6,526,200 kilos in 1907, an increase of 2,689,900 kilos. 
For these two years the German exports of machine tools to Austria- 
Hungary were greater than to any other country, with the exception 
of Italy. Italy, Austria-Hungary, and France have been the largest 
buyers of German machine tools during the past few years, but while 
the Austro-Hungarian market has shown an increase, there has been 
a falling off from 1907 to 1908 in purchases by both Italy and France. 
The following table, compiled from German statistics, shows the 
destination of the exports of machine tools from Germany in 1908: 


Whither exported. 


Italy. 

Austria-Hungary 

France. 

Russia in Europe 

Belgium. 

Switzerland. 

Sweden. 

United Kingdom. 

Netherlands. 

Denmark. 

Japan . 

Spain. 

Argentina. 

Roumania. 


Kilos. 

Whither exported. 

Kilos. 

9,562,900 

Norway. 

405,100 

9,216,100 

Brazil. 

392,700 

5,705, 700 

Finland. 

351, 700 

3,141,800 

United States. 

250,800 

2,891,400 

China. 

227,500 

2,154,900 

Turkey in Europe. 

219,800 

1,379,100 

Dutch Indies. 

158,700 

1,314, 000 

1,169,800 

Chile. 

145,800 
96,700 

Portugal. 

950, 800 

Australia. 

94,200 

917,200 

Bulgaria. 

93, 300 

872,300 
665,500 

All other countries. 

691,200 

557,400 

Total. 

43,629,400 


MANY LANGUAGES SPOKEN IN MONARCHY. 

There is probably no country in Europe, with the exception of 
Russia, that is less understood by Americans than the Austro-Hun¬ 
garian Monarchy. When one considers that the Monarchy is made 
up of 17 crown lands, in which practically 20 different languages 
are spoken in everyday life, it is not surprising that the knowledge 
of this territory is largely gleaned from foreign sources. The various 
divisions of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, and the languages 
spoken in these several districts as they are apparent to the practical 
man of business, are as follows: 


Division. 

Principal city. 

Principal languages spoken. 

Lower Austria. 

Vienna. 

German, Bohemian, Polish, Hungarian, French, 
Italian, English, Russian, Servian, Bulgarian, 
Turkish,Greek, Roumanian, Croatian, Slavonian. 
German and Bohemian. 

German and Bohemian. 

German , Bohemian, and Polish. 

Bohemian, German, and Polish. 

Polish , German, Roumanian, Ruthenian, Bohemian, 
Hungarian, and Russian. 

Upper Austria. 

Linz. 

Moravia. 

Brunn. 

Silesia.:. 

Troppau. 

Bohemia. 

Prague. 

Galicia. 

Lemberg. 

































































MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 


9 


Division. 

Principal city. 

Principal languages spoken. 

Hungary. 


Hungarian, German, Croatian, Slavonian, French, 
Roumanian, Servian, Polish, Bulgarian, and 
Italian. 

Cyrillish, Turkish, German, Greek, Italian, Croatian, 
Bulgarian, Slavonian, and French. 

Italian, German, Slavonian, Croatian, Hungarian, 
Greek, Turkish, and French. 

German, Slavonian, and Italian. 

Slavonian, Italian, and German. 

Slavonian, German, and Italian. 

German and Italian. 

German. 

German. 

German. 

Italian, German, Cyrillish, Greek, Turkish, and 
French. 

Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

Istria. 

Sarajevo and Mostar. 

Triest 

Krain. 

Laibach . 

Gorz and Gradisca. 

Gorz and Gradisca.... 
Klagenfurt 

Karnten. 

Tyrol.. 

Innsbruck 

Salzburg. 

Salzburg 

Voralberg. 

Bregenz ... 

Steiermark. 

Graz___ 

Dalmatia. 

Zara. 




In the above table the words italicized indicate the principal 
languages spoken in the several districts, as apparent to the 
stranger. The designations are fairly accurate, although it is often 
impossible to say which tongue is spoken the most by the inhabitants. 
There are also a number of dialects that are practically languages 
for these several sections. Gorz is half in Austria and half in Italy, 
and, generally speaking, Italian is used there more than any other 
tongue, except when it comes to business dealings with the outer 
world. In Siebenburgen, or Transylvania, there is spoken a Sachsen- 
German dialect, which neither a German nor any other than a native, 
it is declared, can understand. This is one of the instances where a 
dialect might be termed a “ language.” In Fiume business is carried 
on in Hungarian, Italian, Croatian, and German. Ruthenian is a 
variation of Russian, and Cyrillish a variation of Servian. It must 
be borne in mind that Austria borders on Germany, Poland, Russia, 
Roumania, Servia, Turkey, Montenegro, Italy, and Switzerland, and 
with the exception of the first and last, where German is spoken, the 
languages of these border countries are not only spoken in Austria, 
but, in consequence of the bordering influence, there have arisen dur¬ 
ing many centuries dialects which can only properly be described as a 
mixture of the bordering tongues. 

MANUFACTURING DISTRICTS-TRANSPORTATION ROUTES. 

In this great monarchy the three principal divisions, so far as 
manufacturing is concerned, are Austria proper, Hungary, and 
Bohemia. In the observations on the industrial works of Austria- 
Hungary the writer has visited, so far as possible, representative 
plants. An effort has been made to give some idea of the character 
of the manufacturing work in progress and the requirements of the 
various shops. It will be observed that the Austro-Hungarian plants 
are for the most part engaged in the production of high-class ma¬ 
chinery and exact mechanical appliances, in the manufacture of which 
there is a demand for machine tools of the first quality. 

Austria-Hungary has direct sea transportation with the United 
States, while the north of Austria can be reached more readily by 
canal routes, and the practice is followed, in Bohemia especially, of 
exporting and importing by way of Hamburg on the Elbe. Many 
shipments for Moravia, Silesia, Galicia, Upper and Lower Austria, 
and even Hungary, come by the Elbe to the boundary at Teschen, 
where they are put through the customs and forwarded by rail. 






























10 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 


The writer has been impressed with the apparent indifference of 
American selling houses to the business possibilities offered in Aus¬ 
tria-Hungary, and when one considers the facilities for transportation 
between the United States and Austria-Hungary on both the north 
and the south, the wonder is that this territory is not treated with 
the same concern as interstate trade at home. The economic and 
political conditions are all favorable to imports from America. 
Bohemia has been referred to as a “continent within the European 
Continent,” and the visitor in Bohemian territory very early recog¬ 
nizes that Bohemia has a distinct individuality of its own. The same 
statement applies to Hungary, and of all countries in Europe there is 
probably not one in which an American is more welcome. 

The American representative who enters this territory can do so 
free from the prejudices that exist toward many Europeans.. The 
question of the languages is always an important one, but it is the 
writer’s experience that when dealing with the heads of plants, 
English, French, and German will suffice for this territory. There are 
very few directors of the leading Austro-Hungarian works who do 
not speak English, and those few almost invariably speak French. 
Especially is this true of the technical directors and those officials who 
have had engineering training. 

Bohemia ranks second in area in the Austrian Empire, but is re¬ 
garded as first in industry and commerce. According to census figures 
for 1900 the total Austro-Hungarian population was 45,405,267. An 
estimate in 1906 places the population, including Bosnia and Herze¬ 
govina, at 49,965,259. According to the 1900 figures the total popula¬ 
tion of Austria proper approximated 26,000,000, and Bohemia had a 
population of less than 7,000,000. The total number of industrial 
commercial firms in Austria in 1902, according to one authority (Dr. 
F. Peroutka), was 1,051,172, of which number 322,261 were established 
in Bohemia. The industry and mining of Bohemia, from this same 
authority, represented 37.2 per cent of that in the whole of Austria, 
and included 1,166,020 persons. 

LOCATION AND PRODUCTS OF MANUFACTURING PLANTS. 

In the mechanical lines the Bohemian industries comprise manu¬ 
facturing plants for general lines of machinery and especially works 
for the manufacture of locomotives, railway rolling stock in general, 
equipment for mines, sugar refineries, distilling works, power sta¬ 
tions, engines of all descriptions, bridge building and transport ma¬ 
chinery, gas-motor plants, turbines, waterworks plants, and refriger¬ 
ating and other forms of machinery. As a rule, spinning and tex¬ 
tile machinery is imported from Germany and from the United 
Kingdom. 

In Hungary mechanical industries are largely centered in and 
around Budapest, but it will be observed from the reports that there 
are important plants in other parts of Hungary. The great Resicza 
Works of southeastern Hungary are described in a separate report. 

The Austro-Hungarian Monarchy is independent of outside coun¬ 
tries so far as raw material is concerned for manufacturing in me¬ 
chanical lines. The steel produced at Witkowitz and at Resicza is of 
an exceptionally high order, and the building of the new ships of the 
Austro-Hungarian navy is accomplished wholly within the Mon¬ 
archy. _ The great Skoda Works of Pilsen undertake to produce prac- 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 1.1 

tically all artillery required for the new ships, and the Skoda plant 
relieves the Government to a great extent from the maintenance of 
arsenals similar to the Watervliet and the Washington gun foundry 
in the United States. In other words, Skoda is to Austria-Hungary 
largely what Krupp is to Germany. The armor plate for the 
Austro-Hungarian war ships is being built at Witkowitz, and plates 
are under construction at that works up to 300 millimeters thickness. 

The Government has from time to time been taking over former 
private-owned railways, and these acquisitions by the State have led 
to the improvement and development of locomotive works. 

Austria-Hungary has enjoyed, and is enjoying, considerable export 
trade in the direction of the Balkans and Southern Russia, and this 
business very materially contributes to the prosperity of the manu¬ 
facturing plants of the country. 

FINE FIELD FOR AMERICAN MACHINE TOOLS. 

The general impression that German influence is predominant in 
Austria-Hungary may have held true some years ago, but to-day 
this view must be largely considered in an academic sense. It is the 
writer’s observation, based on personal intercourse with the directors 
of representative plants and men high in authority, that there is a 
great field in this territory for American machine tools and American 
equipment. Government regulations require that the preference 
shall be given to Austro-Hungarian material wherever possible, but 
it is recognized in high official quarters that the best grades of 
machine tools are not always obtainable in this territory, and that 
in such cases machinery must be purchased from the outside. In 
fact, it has been the practice always to buy from the outside, and 
mostly from German sources. Under such circumstances as now exist 
there is every reason to believe that American machine tools are in 
position to claim first, consideration. 

There are a number of Austro-Hungarian plants engaged in the 
manufacture of machine tools, and at several of these works ex¬ 
cellent machines are being built. It is recognized that Austro-Hun¬ 
garian works do not offer to-day in sufficient quantities medium¬ 
sized tools of the highest grades, and it is in this particular field 
that American opportunity lies. 

It is interesting to note that in the Bohemian territory there were 
sold during the past year a number of American machines of the 
larger sizes, in direct competition with German equipment, and the 
writer was informed that these American tools were bought because 
of their superior merit. 

The Austro-Hungarian territory, in common with other European 
fields, undoubtedly offers at this time special inducements to Ameri¬ 
can manufacturers. There are numerous Austro-Hungarian works 
where high-grade tools are regarded as an essential, and it is to these 
plants that American attention can advantageously be directed. 

FREIGHT RATES FROM THE UNITED STATES. 

The sea freight on machine tools from the United States to Austria 
does not vary much with reference to the different lines. 

The Cunard Steamship Company advises that the rate f. o. b. 
Liverpool to Trieste on American machine tools will be 20 shillings 


12 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 


($4.87) and 10 per cent per ton, gross weight, or measurement, pre¬ 
paid. The rate from London to Liverpool is 10s. 6d. ($2.55) per ton, 
quay to quay, and Liverpool expenses 3s. 6d. (85 cents) per ton. The 
same company advises that the rate on American machine tools from 
New York to Trieste would be 21s. ($5.11) in full on small quantities, 
but for larger quantities 20s. per ton and 5 per cent, weight or meas¬ 
urement, ship’s option. These rates, however, are subject to altera¬ 
tions without notice. 

The station chief of the Siidbahn or Southern Railway, between 
Vienna and Trieste, advises that iron machines and parts thereof, with 
the exception of sewing, knitting, writing, and adding machines, pay 
rates as follows per 100 kilos (220 pounds), the crown being valued at 
20.3 cents: 


Haul. 

Up to 5,000 
kilos. 

Not under 
5,000 kilos. 

Not under 
10,000 kilos. 

Vienna, to Trieste....._. 

Crowns. 

2.90 

4.37 

2.90 

Crowns. 

2.38 
- 3.36 

2.15 

Crowns. 

2.22 

2.87 

1.68 

Trieste to Vienna. 

Vienna to Trieste, for export. 



A shipping office in Vienna states that the freight rates on iron 
lathes f. o. b. New York to Trieste (on board, not unloaded) are 
17s. 8d. ($4.30) and 5 per cent per English cubic foot. This com¬ 
pany states that the sea freight varies according to choice of steamer. 
The same company quotes from Trieste station to Vienna station 
3.10 crowns per 100 kilos (63 cents per 220 pounds). The unload¬ 
ing expenses from steamer and loading on car in Trieste will vary 
for such machines from 2 to 2.50 crowns per 100 kilos (40.6 to 50.7 
cents per 220 pounds). These rates are approximate and not 
binding. 

The Austrian Lloyd of Trieste quotes the following freight rates 
per ton f. o. b. New York to Trieste on machine tools: For machines 
of 120 cubic feet per ton, 15 shillings ($3.65) ; 1 to 1-J tons each, 20s. 
($4.87) ; 1£ to 3 tons each, 22s. 6d. ($5.47) ; from 3 to 4 tons each, 
27s. 6d. ($6.69) ; plus, in each case, an addition of 5 per cent for 
every 40 cubic feet, and with choice of steamer. 

VULKAN WORKS. 

The most important machine-tool works in Austria-Hungary are the 
Vulkan Works, located in Vienna. The full name and address of this 
plant is Vulkan Maschinenfabriks-Actien-Gesellschaft, Wien, XVI, 
Watt-gasse 30. There is a branch establishment located in Budapest. 
I have observed Vulkan tools in foreign countries to a limited extent. 
As a rule, however, Vulkan is doing very little export business. 
The demands of the home market are sufficiently great to absorb the 
greater part of the output, and, so far as my observations go, Vulkan 
has been drawn upon by all the leading Austro-Hungarian manu¬ 
facturing plants. 

Every facility was afforded for inspecting the works, under the 
escort of Engineer-in-Chief Heinr. Ast, while a comprehensive talk 
was had with Director Fluss, of the commercial department. The 












MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 13 

technical director at Vulkan is Mr. W. Schuster. It was stated that 
the Vulkan Works were working about 500 men, or about two-thirds 
force. The greatest number of men which Vulkan has employed at 
any one time in Vienna was 800. 

The situation at the Vulkan Works is a peculiar one, and in one 
sense the firm may be said to enjoy subsidy benefits. AH government 
plants in Austria-Hungary are called upon to make limited expendi¬ 
tures in the home market. One plant under government control 
stated that it was not necessary to make a definite per cent expendi¬ 
ture in the home field with reference to every item purchased, but 
rather a certain percentage of the sum total of the appropriation 
awarded the plants by the Government. It would seem that the 
majority of Austrian plants under government control feel it incum¬ 
bent to purchase at least one-third of the machine-tool equipment in 
the home territory. The same statement applies with equal force to 
Hungarian works under state control. The Vulkan Works appar¬ 
ently profit by this situation, and in order to avail of the Hungarian 
territory have established a branch in the Hungarian capital, in which 
they employ 400 to 600 men. 

I was informed that the Vulkan Works undertake to build no less 
than 200 different types and sizes of machine tools and accessories. 
The Hure Works in Paris build 152 different types of machines, and 
the necessity of building so many different designs is strongly depre¬ 
cated by Mr. Hure. He would much prefer to confine his efforts to 
the building of two or three designs only, but owing to their limited 
territory he w T as compelled to take advantage of every available order. 
To judge from conversation with the Vulkan officials, a similar opin¬ 
ion is held by the latter. Mr. Ast, in reply to an inquiry as to what 
line of machines he would rather confine his attention to were it 
possible to limit the types of output, replied, “ Planers.” 

MAKING LARGE SIZES. 

The Vulkan Works appear to be making special efforts along the 
lines of the larger sizes of machine tools. If there is any one type of 
tool which Vulkan is laying stress upon, it is apparently the larger 
size of planers. The firm does not hesitate to go in for large dimen¬ 
sions and undertakes to build planers ranging in width of table up to 
4 meters (13.12 feet). Vulkan has actually made planers up to 5^ 
meters (18 feet) wddth. This special size was built for ironworks 
and was designed for handling heavy armor plates. The latter 
planers are designed to cut either one way or both ways, longi¬ 
tudinally and transversely, and also vertically. For the heavy planers 
three or four speeds are supplied and at least two speeds are always 
given when an electro-clutch is used. The Vulkan establishment 
emphasizes the advantage of the electrically driven clutch-controlled 
planer. The firm builds its own motors, which are adapted for slow 
speed and several rates of speed. One planer in service had a length 
of 15 meters (49.2 feet) and was electrically driven by a Vulkan 
motor. The speed of this machine can be regulated at the tool in 
proportion of 1 to 6. There are two open belts for the cutting speed 
with step pulleys. The electro-clutch attachment makes it possible 
to advance the table by millimeter degrees if so desired. 


14 MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 

MACHINE TOOLS IN USE. 

The Vulkan Works were making some very fine large-sized radial 
drills. These machines resemble very closely the Bickford American 
type, and, like the Bickford, the Vulkan drills are universal in opera¬ 
tion. Several of these Vulkan radial drills were in process of build¬ 
ing, having arm lengths of 2| meters (7.6 feet). One very early re¬ 
ceives the impression on visiting the Vulkan Works that these shops 
are confining their attention largely to the building of large-sized 
tools especially adapted for locomotive works and similar machinery 
plants. There is hardly a machine tool required by locomotive 
builders which is not undertaken by the Vulkan firm. This line of con¬ 
struction must necessarily be profitable in a country where so many of 
the locomotive shops are^under government control or regulation. The 
smaller machine tools are apparently only undertaken by Vulkan, 



Fig. 1.—Vulkan quick-return planer, belt-driven, two cutting speeds, fitted with electro-clutch. 


as a rule, to fill the general demand of their clients. Some beautiful 
turning and boring machines were in process of construction, designed 
especially for working up axles and car wheels. These tools are 
electrically equipped. It was stated that the Vulkan Works formerly 
made many electric cranes, but that very few were now being built. 
The cranes which have been turned out are, in general, of the Shaw 
electric crane type. The Austrian firm of Petravic, it was said, is the 
principal plant now making a specialty of crane building in Austrian 
territory. 

The number of American machine tools in use in the Vulkan shops 
is very small. There are several American-type machines on the 
floors, but minus the names of builders. One of these nameless tools 
could very readily pass for a Brown & Sharpe universal miller. Two 
Brown & Sharpe grinders were in use and a Millers Falls saw. These 
were the only American tools coming under my notice. Technical 
Director W. Schuster informed me that he had previously suggested 
the advisability of Vulkan connecting up with several American 






MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 15 

machine-tool building firms, and that he was still of the opinion 
that Yulkan could advantageously handle several types of American 
machine tools for the Austrian territory. The types of machines 
which Director Schuster has in mind are the smaller and medium 
sizes of lathes, drills, millers, grinders, and all sorts of special ma¬ 
chinery. 

LEADING TYPES TURNED OUT— WAGES PAID. 

The principal work in the Yulkan shops is confined to the manu¬ 
facture of the following line of tools: Lathes of every kind, size, 
and description (over 120 different patterns) ; planers, shapers, 
slotters (about 70 different patterns) ; drilling and boring machines 
(about 100 different patterns) ; horizontal, vertical, and special mill¬ 
ing machines (about 50 different patterns) ; screw-cutting, tapping, 
sawing, and grinding machines (about 60 different patterns) ; punch- 



Fig. 2.—Heavy motor-driven planing machine with three cutting speeds and quick return, under 
test at Vulkan Works. Shows driving gear with electro-magnetic clutches, Vulkan patent. 


ing, shearing, plate, beam, rail, angle, bending, and straightening 
machines (about 80 different patterns) ; eccentric and friction presses, 
steam hammers, pneumatic hammers, hydraulic presses, blowers, and 
miscellaneous tools (over 100 different patterns) ; wood-working 
machines (about 50 different patterns). 

The Yulkan Works in several instances are turning out tools of 
more than ordinary merit, the planer work and the large-sized tools 
for locomotive building being deserving of special consideration. 
The electric control as imparted to the Yulkan planers makes these 
machines exceptionally high grade in working properties. 

The Yulkan Works were formerly known as R. Fernau & Co., Otta- 
kring-Wien. The present shops are at the same locality as the parent 
works. The new company was organized in 1893. The workmen 
are paid according to the amount of work performed. For each piece 
there is a fixed valuation, and the workman is paid whenever the work 
is completed. In case the task extends over a pay-day period advances 
are made. I was informed that some of the very best workmen 








16 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 


receive as high as 10 crowns ($2.03) per day. The average rate of pay 
for good machinists varies from 6 to 8 crowns ($1.22 to $1.62) per 
day. Apprentices receive 1.7 crowns (34.5 cents) per day. A day’s 
work at the Vulkan shops comprises 9 hours and 20 minutes. The 
shops open at 7 a. m. and close at 6 p. m. (Saturdays at 4 p. m.), with 
an interval of 10 minutes for breakfast and 1^ hours for dinner. 

ERNST DANIA WORKS. 

The Ernst Dania Works at Vienna were employing in July, 1909, 
less than 200 men in the manufacture of machine tools. Many Dania 
machine tools have been observed in Austrian shops, and especially 
tools of the lathe type. This firm does not undertake to specialize 
as is understood in the American sense, but will undertake to build 
to order any one of nearly 200 varieties of tools. The inspection of 
the Dania plant was made with Mr. Ernst Dania. The shops are not 
extensive, but the work turned out is in many instances of high merit. 
Dania builds largely to government orders, and especially for loco¬ 
motive works. When running full, about 300 men are employed. A 
day’s work here comprises 9^ hours. Dania in July had consider¬ 
able orders in hand, and relatively was doing more business than 
other Austrian machine-tool shops. The only tools built to series, so 
far as could be learned, are lathes, drills, planers, and shapers, and 
it was stated that these tools are turned out in lots of either six or 
twelve, according to size. 

AUSTRIAN VERSUS GERMAN TRANSPORTATION RATES. 

There are a number of machine-tool building plants in Austria, 
but the most conspicuous are the Vulkan Works, Dania Works, and 
Joh. Muller. I have seen more medium-sized Dania tools in Austrian 
shops than from any other firm in this territory. When one con¬ 
siders the enormous demand for machine tools in Austria, the wonder 
is that Austrian firms are not able to profit more largely by the situa¬ 
tion. In 1907 the German exportation of machine tools to Austria- 
Hungary was greater than to any other territory. Apparently, the 
Austrian * manufacturers realize the conditions under which they 
labor, and Mr. Dania advised that a shipment can be made of ma¬ 
chine tools from England to Trieste for 80 hellers per 100 kilos 
(16.2 cents per 220 pounds), whereas a shipment from Vienna to 
Trieste by rail, he states, costs 4.8 crowns (97.4 cents) per 100 kilos. 

Mr. Dania stated that it is impossible to compete in Russia with 
German machine-tool builders by reason of the heavy transportation 
rates across Austria to the Russian frontier. These rates, he de¬ 
clared, are far greater than German rates for export, even as against 
the shorter Austrian haul. Recently a new road has been opened 
from Salzburg to Trieste, but Mr. Dania states that there will be no 
advantage for Austrian manufacturers, since it was proposed to raise 
the freight rates on January 1, 1910. At present the road from 
Vienna to Trieste is in private hands, but eventually the State, it is 
understood, proposes to control the important roads of the country. 
The opinion prevails that the new road from Salzburg to Trieste will 
only serve as another advantage in furthering German exports. 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 


17 


ECONOMIC CONDITIONS-AMERICAN TOOLS-OUTPUT. 

The economic conditions surrounding the manufacture of machine 
tools in Austria are not as favorable, it would seem, as in Germany. 
Higher wages have to be paid to Austrian workmen, and there is no 
more freedom from strikes in this territory than in France or Ger¬ 
many. In this connection it is the writer’s observation that few 
countries in Europe afford the manufacturing advantages, from the 
employers’ standpoint, given by Belgium. 

Naturally in works like those of Dania’s it is hardly to be expected 
that one would find many American machine tools, since Dania under¬ 
takes to build almost every type of tool. There was, however, one 
planer from the G. A. Gray Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, and one 
grinder from the Landis Tool Company, Waynesboro, Pa., apparently 
the only American tools in the works. Dania is running planers 
on both spindle and gear drives. The opinion was expressed that 
the tendency now in planer designs is to increase the cutting speed. 
Dania is employing cutting steel from Bohler and from Schoeller 
& Co. 

Dania is turning out double-tooth shapers, is building planers after 
the Gray type, and is also turning out machines for cone-gear cut¬ 
ting. The firm prides itself on being able to undertake the largest 
gear-cutting work that can be handled in Vienna. Dania is cutting 
gears for his tools on machines of his own make and on Biernatzki 
hobbers. 

The Dania Works are turning out an excellent type of steam 
hammer, the special design of Mr. Ernst Dania, and these shops 
have built steam hammers having a maximum capacity per tool of 
12 metric hundredweight (2,640 pounds). The works are run by an 
80-horsepower Brunn-Ivonigsfelder steam engine and a 30-horsepower 
gas engine of Dania’s own make. 

Dania has a large supply of machine tools now in stock, and is sell¬ 
ing from his stock supply. Notwithstanding that business is at 
present good, Mr. Dania declared that conditions are much quieter 
than in 1907 and 1908. While Dania is making a number of excellent 
tools, it is evident that these shops can lay special claim to excellence 
in lathes, shapers, drilling machines, and special tools for locomotive 
work. 

JOH. MULLER WORKS. 

The Joh. Muller Works are one of the three leading machine-tool 
houses of Vienna, the other two being the Vulkan and the Dania 
works. At the Muller Works it was stated that only 75 men were 
employed in the manufacture of machine tools. Ordinarily, when 
times are good, 250 men are carried on the pay rolls. The Joh. Mul¬ 
ler Works carry the name of the elder Muller. Five brothers, sons 
of Joh. Muller, are now actively connected with the firm. The shops 
were inspected under the guidance of Mr. Christian Muller. The full 
address of this establishment is Erste Wiener Werkzeug-Maschinen- 
Fabrik und Eisengiesserei Joh. Muller, Vienna, Austria. 

The Muller Works are making a specialty of lathes and are build¬ 
ing the ordinary engine type. The largest size turned out has a 
height of 640 mm, and to this height any length can be built. The 

H. Doc. 913, 61-2-2 


18 MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 

smallest lathe has a height of center of 150 mm. The Muller lathes 
are designed especially for locomotive works, and the writer found 
many lathes of this firm’s make in Austrian locomotive shops. Mul¬ 
ler is building lathes in series of 4, 6, or 8 for the large sizes and 20 
and 24 for the small sizes. Muller employs phosphor bronze for 
bushings, Bessemer steel for spindles, and cast steel for shaft of 
cones. The lathes have 5-step cones. 

The Muller Works have undertaken to build vertical millers, and 
attention was called to a new vertical miller which, it was stated, is 
the first one built by the Muller Works. This particular tool has 
been designed for milling the eccentrics of Diesel motors. This new 
miller is now undergoing experimentation, and, when found satis¬ 
factory, 8 machines will be built. 

In all, about 15 types of machine tools are manufactured in the 
Muller Works. The list includes lathes, planers, radial drills, ver¬ 
tical millers, horizontal millers, horizontal borers, multiple spindle 
machines, turret lathes, shapers (5 types), screw-cutting machines, 
vertical drills, keyway cutters, slotters, plate-bending machines, and 
shearing machines. Aside from the lathes, Muller probably makes 
more radial drills than any other single type of machine. 

OUTPUT DISTRIBUTION. 

Mr. Christian Muller states that the majority of their tools go to 
private works. I gathered from his remarks that the impression 
exists at Muller’s that German sources are largely drawn upon to 
furnish machine tools for private shops. In addition to machine 
tools, Muller is building hydraulic presses, and one press was seen 
which, it was stated, affords a maximum pressure of 600 atmospheres. 
Generally these presses are mounted on three pillars, but for the 
small presses four pillars are employed. In a few instances Muller 
has built presses with two pillars. The press cylinders are made of 
cast steel. 

The Muller shops, while not large, are doing good work. The 
lathes turned out appear to possess more than ordinary merit. As a 
rule, nearly all the tools in the shops are of fair quality, though not 
a single American machine tool was seen in the works. I have heard 
Muller’s lathes spoken of in complimentary terms, and to the visitor 
it is difficult to understand why a shop such as this should not enjoy 
a large share of Austrian business. But it was stated that very little 
encouragement is extended. Prices are not maintained, and the price 
of a tool to-day may be wholly at variance with the price quoted 
a few months hence. A sort of cutthroat policy exists, and prices 
are jockeyed to meet individual cases. Machine-tool manufacturers 
have stated that they wish it were possible to follow the American 
practice of announcing prices in advance and maintaining those 
quotations. 

WORK IN THE MULLER SHOPS. 

All work in the Muller shops is on a piecework basis. This piece¬ 
work system has been introduced by Muller during the past year, 
and it has been found that under the present arrangement 50 men 
are turning out as much work as was formerly obtained from 90 men. 
The shop drive throughout is afforded by steam power. In the 
foundry electric power is used in connection with ventilation. The 
only American feature found in Muller’s was a 3-pair scroll (No. 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 19 

153) from the Union Manufacturing Company, of New Britain, 
Conn., ordered by a customer for one of Muller’s lathes at the time 
the lathe was purchased. The lathe was standing in the stock room, 
being made ready for shipment, and the scroll box was going out with 
it. The lathe was 185 mm. height of center of tool. 

The different sizes of the lathes made by Muller are as follows: 
Height of centers, 150 mm., 160 mm., 185 mm., 210 mm., 230 mm.; 
SSD, very heavy, 230 mm. and 240 mm.; heavy, 220 mm.; light, 265 
mm.; heavy,.250 mm.; heavy, 285 mm.; heavy, 320 mm.; heavy, 350 
mm.; heavy, 420 mm.; heavy, 510 mm.; heavy, 640 mm. 

A week’s work in the Muller shops comprises 54 hours; under nor¬ 
mal conditions Saturday is only a half day. The half-day work on 
Saturday is a general practice followed in and about Vienna. The 
unions endeavor to enforce these hours. Strikes are frequent in the 
Vienna district, and at all times it is difficult to secure good men. 
Machinists earn as a rule 6.2 crowns ($1.25) per day. Mr. Muller 
states that if a man earns below that wage on the piece schedule he 
is not deemed desirable and is discharged. 

STATE RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVE WORKS. 

One of the oldest locomotive plants in Austria is known as the 
Privileged Austro-Hungarian State Railway Works. The establish¬ 
ment is located in the city of Vienna, and it was in the shops of this 
firm that the old locomotive “ Philadelphia ” served as a prototype in 
the early building of Austrian railway engines. This locomotive was 
brought over from the United States in 1838. 

The leading spirit in the early development of the Vienna Locomo¬ 
tive Works was John Haswell, a Scotchman, born in 1812. Haswell 
received a fine technical training in the Glasgow University and saw 
much practical service in both Scotland and England. In 1838 Has¬ 
well undertook the establishing of the locomotive works in Vienna, 
and his energy and spirit of initiative soon stamped him as the pioneer 
of locomotive building in Austria. The technical knowledge and rich 
instruction which Haswell had brought with him were potent forces, 
and soon the influence of his construction and designs of new locomo¬ 
tive types were felt throughout and beyond the borders of Austria. 

In 1839 the greater part of the establishment was made ready, and 
the energy of Haswell was further seen by the large amount of tool 
equipment turned out. From the very first Haswell undertook to 
build passenger coaches mounted on eight wheels, after the American 
principle. In the short space of one and a half years Haswell was 
enabled to create a great industry, and this industry had scarcely a 
peer in all Austria. Many of Haswell’s ideas as to construction meth¬ 
ods have remained through the years that have intervened, and are 
almost unchanged, for the ideas were, for the most part, ahead of the 
spirit of the times. After the lapse of years one can go back, it is 
declared, to these same inventions of Haswell, and they appear even 
now as new and epoch making. 

PRESENT MANAGEMENT AND OUTPUT. 

Haswell retired in 1882 from the direction of the locomotive works, 
but up to the time of his death, in 1897, he was interested in all that 
was new in locomotive building, which to him had been so fruitful a 
work field. 


20 


MACHINE-TOOD TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 


The control of the plant is at present in the hands of Director 
Anton Martinek, and Mr. S. Nevole is the superintendent. The writer 
visited the plant on July 14, 1909, and was shown over the shops by 
Mr. V. Sadek, and every facility and courtesy was extended. The 
location of the works is close to the Staats and Slid Bahnhofe (State 
and Southern Bailway stations). At the time 1,500 men were em¬ 
ployed in the Vienna shops, a night force of 150 men also being kept 
going. A week’s work at the Vienna shops comprises 53 hours. The 
average rate of pay to good machinists is 6 to 7 croyns ($1.22 to 
$1.42) per day. The administration of affairs has been, it is said, most 
liberal in its treatment of the workmen, and the relations existing 
between employer and employees have, on the whole, been most satis¬ 
factory. 

The output of these works is practically limited to locomotives, 
the maximum number of which per year has heretofore been 138, 
but for 1909 it is necessary to build 140. Practically all of these 
orders are for the Austrian State Bailways. During the present year 
there is no export work in hand, but in the past exports have been 
sent to Boumania, France, Italy, and Bussia. The Vienna shops 
have also built for Hungary. Mr. Sadek called attention to the high 
freight rates imposed in Austria, and thinks it militates against in¬ 
dustrial development. 

The general designs of the locomotives built here follow, for the 
most part, the Golsdorf types. The designer of these locomotives, 
Mr. Golsdorf, is regarded to-day as one of the leading locomotive 
authorities in Europe. This gentleman is at present attached to the 
Austrian State Bailway administration. Many of the features ap¬ 
parent in the locomotive output from the Vienna shops are essen¬ 
tially from Golsdorf plans, but it was stated that Schmidt super¬ 
heaters are used when the designs call for superheaters. In addition 
to Golsdorf locomotives both the Atlantic and Prairie types of 
American engines are built. 

The locomotives turned out are of an extraordinarily fine type, and 
the attention to detail and finish is of a most exacting character. 
The greatest care is manifested in every feature of the work, and it 
is because of the high standard which has been set that shops like 
this one can afford to purchase only the very best grade of machine 
tools. The work which John Haswell inaugurated and which has 
since been modernized by Mr. Martinek and Mr. Nevole has left an 
indelible impression upon these shops, and nowhere in all .Austria 
has the writer seen greater initiative in evidence or more originality 
in methods. 

FINE EQUIPMENT OF AMERICAN TOOLS. 

Exclusive locomotive shops permit the employment of many varieties 
of tools of the rougher sort, and as many of these tools are heavy and 
ponderous, they are not so readily affected by £ige as the finely ad¬ 
justed medium-sized machines. But, even taking into consideration 
these conditions, one is impressed with the great number of high- 
grade modern machine tools in use, showing clearly that the direc¬ 
tion of this establishment is alert in the procurement of the best lines 
of machines. 

One of the first groups of American tools noticed was an assemblage 
of Brown & Sharpe grinders. There were six tools in all of various 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 21 

U 7 P es > and Mr. Sadek, in commenting on these machines, said: “ We 
know of none better.” Brown & Sharpe millers are also in evidence, 
and there are a number of Gray planers and Pratt & Whitney tools. 
More Sellers planers were found in service here than had been seen 
in any one shop in Austrian territory. Several of these Sellers 
planers are very heavy tools. Particular attention was attracted to 
one Sellers machine (No. 1057) planing off locomotive cylinder bear¬ 
ing faces, and working on iron having a tensile strength of 26 kilos 
per square millimeter, which is equivalent to 36,980 pounds per 
square inch. This Sellers planer was equipped with Sellers’s patent 
spiral gear, having six-time return speeds and single belt. To use 
Mr. Sadek’s expression, “ The working of this Sellers machine is 
little short of wonderful.” Mr. Sadek visited America at the time of 
the World’s Fair in Chicago and inspected the Sellers works. He 
states that the managers of the Vienna works buy direct from the 
Philadelphia firm. 

In addition to the Sellers planers, a Sellers boring mill (No. 276) 
and a Sellers cylinder borer were in use. With reference to the 
boring mill, Mr. Sadek said that it had never called for any repairs, 
was very strong, and he knew of none better. The Sellers cylinder 
boring machine was declared to be an excellent tool, and is especially 
liked because of the fact that the head is fixed in the boring bar and 
is not removable. This machine was No. 731. Mr. Sadek stated 
that he can finish up all boring work on one locomotive cylinder in 
eight hours’ time with the Sellers tool. This includes face cutting, 
reaming, and boring. 

There is a Gray 520-millimeter table planer in service, the con¬ 
struction of which is considered exquisite, but the machine itself is 
said to be too light. It is probably a case of too small a tool for the 
work imposed. 

Other American machine tools in evidence include a Bickford 
radial drill, Gisholt turret lathes, Gould & Eberhardt shapers, 
Pratt & Whitney millers, Hillis & Jones punch, and Brown & 
Sharpe planer grinders. One of these Brown & Sharpe tools 
came from the Paris exhibit lot of that company. Undoubtedly the 
tools which are in the highest favor in these works are those of 
Brown & Sharpe and of the Sellers company. As previously stated, 
the purchase of the Sellers tools is made direct from America, and it 
is significant that a close connection has been established in the 
relationship between the Vienna and Philadelphia firms. 

Transportable electric drills are used to a considerable extent, but 
there are no pneumatic tools in service. 

EUROPEAN MACHINE TOOLS IN USE. 

Austrian machine-tool works have been drawn on and have fur¬ 
nished a number of very fine machines, especially the Vulkan Works 
and the Dania Works. There are German tools in evidence, and also 
many English tools. Collett & Engelhard, of Offenbach-on-the- 
Main, have supplied a 4-spindle drill for boiler-head work, and 
Vulkan has built a tool for milling the edges of boiler hoods. Dania, 
of Vienna, has supplied planers, lathes, and several special tools. 
Fairbairn, Naylor & Co., of Leeds, England, have a slotter in service 
which was working on 12 layers of locomotive frames, each of 30 


22 MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 

millimeters thickness. Ducommun has supplied lathes, but there was 
some criticism of these tools. Some boring mills are in service, built 
after the Richards system, and there are some Vulkan horizontal 
cylinder borers in use. Vulkan has also supplied radial drills and 
a large combined vertical and horizontal driller. A Dania miller 
was seen at work milling the blanks in the sides of connecting 
rods, the steel in the rods having a tensile strength of 70 kilos per 
square millimeter (99,563 pounds per square inch). Still other for¬ 
eign tools in use comprise lathes from Reska, of Prague; vertical 
miller from Kendall & Gent, which is spoken of highly because of 
its gear movement; a planer from Zimmermann; grinders from 
Schmaltz and from Grafenstaden; vertical grinder from Bayer, 
Peacock & Co.; an automatic slot-drilling machine from Smith & 
Coventry, England; a band saw from Noble & Lund, of Newcastle- 
on-Tyne; double vertical drills from Sharp, Stewart & Co., of Man¬ 
chester; and a hammer from Schultz & Goebel, of Vienna. The 
Grafenstaden vertical miller was milling down the heads on all 
connecting rods, and was doing good work. 

FLORIDSDORF LOCOMOTIVE WORKS. 

The Floridsdorf Locomotive Works, a private concern, are located 
on the outskirts of Vienna. In July, 1909, about 1,200 men were 
employed, about 1,200 short of maximum. The full name and address 
of the Floridsdorf Works is Wiener Locomotiv-Fabriks-Actien-Ge- 
sellscliaft, Floridsdorf-Vienna, Austria. 

I was personally shown over the plant by Director Hermann Gus- 
senbauer. The machine-tool installation is one of the best seen in 
any locomotive establishment in Austria-Hungary. The very latest 
tools are sought for, and among the most recent purchases was ob¬ 
served a No. 4 vertical miller from the Cincinnati Milling Machine 
Company. This machine had been in place only eight days, and is 
the first tool of the type seen in any Austrian shop. Director Gus- 
senbauer states that he paid for it 12,000 crowns ($2,436). 

Close to the Cincinnati machine is a Reinecker tool from Chem¬ 
nitz, Germany, of practically the same size and type. The price paid 
for the Reinecker machine was 7,800 crowns ($1,583). The latter 
tool has been in service six months. The Cincinnati machine was 
purchased because the Floridsdorf Works wanted a stronger tool 
than the Reinecker, and Director Gussenbauer stated that he believes 
he secured what he wants in the No. 4 Cincinnati. However, he says, 
the latter tool has not been in service long enough to permit making 
a definite statement. The foregoing is mentioned to show the readi¬ 
ness of the Floridsdorf management to purchase tools wholly on 
merit, even when the price is in excess of what is asked for similar 
tools on the Continent. 

THE SHOPS AND THEIR OUTPUT. 

The Floridsdorf shops are building, on an average, 120 locomotives 
per year. For 1909 the number of engines under contract is ^)0. 
These works, founded in 1870, are the most recent of the three loco¬ 
motive-building shops in Lower Austria, and are the outcome of a 
constantly increasing demand for locomotives and rolling stock, 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 23 

dating from that period. The company was organized on a limited 
liability basis, the actual date of the document of authorization being 
September 6, 1869. The president of the council of administration 
is Mr. Jules Herz, and the administration of technical and commer¬ 
cial affairs, Mr. Hermann Gussenbauer, who succeeded the late Ber¬ 
nard Demmer. 

The ground covered by the Floridsdorf Works comprises 16J hec¬ 
tares (40.76 acres), of which 8^ hectares (21 acres) are actually 
occupied by buildings, the remaining portion being given over to 
gardens and the habitations of the workmen. The location of the 
works is in close proximity to both the Northeast and the Northern 
railways. The construction of the buildings was commenced in April 
and finished in November, 1870. In January, 1871, the Floridsdorf 
shops commenced the actual building of material for railways. The 
first locomotive left the works on June 10, 1871, and 146 locomotives 
and 120 tenders had left the shops by the end of 1873. Of this num¬ 
ber 6 locomotives, with tenders, were destined for railways of Alsace- 
Lorraine. 

EFFECT OF A FINANCIAL CRISIS. 

The financial crisis of 1873 was naturally felt at these recently 
organized works, and it required every effort to weather the storm. 
This crisis^ which lasted from 1873 to 1879, so retarded work at 
Floridsdorf that only 118 locomotives were built, and of this number 
35 were for export. In the following years the situation cleared 
somewhat, but at the same time slowly. One order was secured for 
31 locomotives, with tenders, for the Chemin de Fer du Nord of 
France. In 1882 the Floridsdorf Works secured an order for 60 
locomotives, with tenders, for the Chemin de Fer Paris-Lyon-Mediter- 
ranee. On March 8, 1896, engine No. 1000 was completed, and this 
occasion was celebrated by the presence of the Minister of Railways 
and many eminent persons. This was a compound engine. 

By 1908 the Floridsdorf Works had built 1,830 locomotives and 
1,070 tenders, together with many separate parts, boilers, stationary 
steam engines, locomobiles, machine tools, and various other products. 
At the end of the same period there had been delivered to the rail¬ 
ways of Austria-Hungary 1,671 locomotives, while 159 engines had 
been supplied to foreign roads. In all, 117 different types have been 
developed. 

Between 1893 and 1908 the Floridsdorf shops built 645 compound 
locomotives. These same works brought out the first 10-wheel 
freight engines for the Austrian state railways. This engine was 
designed by the eminent Austrian government engineer, Charles 
Golsdorf. The Floridsdorf shops build, as a specialty, locomotives 
for rack railways, which include among others the system Abt. The 
most powerful of these engines weighs, in working order, 72 tons. 
Still another specialty is crane locomotives, designed in particular 
for steel casting in steel works. 

MACHINE TOOLS IN USE. 

There are many machine tools in use at Floridsdorf which were 
built at the locomotive works, but these tools are necessarily of early 
date. Practically all recent acquisitions are purchases from well- 


24 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 


known machine-tool houses or agents. Director Gussenbauer inti¬ 
mated that it would be to the advantage of American manufacturers 
if firms like Floridsdorf could deal directly with houses in the United 
States instead of through agents. There are quite a number of tools 
at Floridsdorf from William Sellers & Co., of Philadelphia. These 
machines were bought direct, and Director Gussenbauer adds that he 
would buy more American machines if he could treat at first hand, 
as with Sellers. In this connection attention is called to the practice 
of the Staats-Eisenbahn-Gesellscliaft Works, of Vienna, in buying 
machine tools direct from the Sellers firm. 

In all, there are 624 machine tools on the Floridsdorf floors. The 
majority of these tools are of foreign origin. Among the American 
machine tools in use are the following: 


Becker Milling Machine Co., Hyde Park, Mass—Vertical miller. 

Hendey Machine Co., Torrington, Conn_Lathes. 

Bement, Miles & Co., Philadelphia, Pa_Boring mill and slotters. 

William Sellers & Co., Philadelphia_Planers and grinders. 

Landis Tool Co., Waynesboro_Grinders. 

Warner & Swasey Co., Cleveland, Ohio_Hexagonal turret lathes. 

Acme Machinery Co., Cleveland_.Threaders. 

Cleveland Automatic Machine Co., Cleveland_Automatic machines. 

G. A. Gray Co., Cincinnati_Planers. 

Springfield Machine Tool Co., Springfield_Shapers. 

Cincinnati Shaper Co., Cincinnati_Shapers. 

Lodge & Shipley Machine Tool Co., Cincinnati_Engine lathes. 

Bickford Drill and Tool Co., Cincinnati_Radial drill. 

Morton Manufg. Co., Muskegon Heights, Mich_Back shaper. 

Gisholt Machine Co., Madison, Wis_Turret lathes and vertical tur¬ 

ret lathes; boring mill. 


Chicago automatic time recorders are in service. In the tempering 
room the gas furnaces in use are from the American Gas Furnace 
Company, Elizabeth, N. J. There are at least six Warner & Swasey 
machine tools in use; three of these are hexagonal turret lathes, pur¬ 
chased about two years ago, and are pronounced good machines. 

Director Gussenbauer states that he paid 12,000 crowns ($2,436) for 
the Bickford radial drill. The features of this tool are: Drills holes 
up to 90 millimeters maximum; reach of spindle, 1,990 millimeters 
maximum, 810 millimeters minimum. Three planers from the G. A. 
Gray Company, of Cincinnati, Ohio, were at work. 

The back shaper from the Morton Manufacturing Company has 
been supplemented with an attachment for cutting the teeth of cone 
gears. The Morton machine was at work cutting cone gears. 


PRICES OF VARIOUS TOOLS. 

The Cincinnati Shaper Company has supplied one double shaper in 
addition to the standard machine. The prices paid and the sizes of 
the machines are as follows: 


Description. 

Length of 
stroke. 

Length of 
bed. 

Price 

paid. 

One head shaper.'. 

Millimeters. 

460 

560 

Millimeters. 
2,440 
4,880 

SI, 928 
3 796 

Double head shaper.. 

























MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 


25 


For a No. 3 Cincinnati Milling Machine Company miller Florids- 
dorf paid 7,900 crowns ($1,604) ; this is a universal tool. Grafen- 
staden has supplied a horizontal miller of about the same size for 
3,500 crowns ($710), and J. E. Reinecker, of Chemnitz, made deliv¬ 
ery of a similar machine for 3,400 crowns ($690). The numbers and 
sizes of the Grafenstaden and Reinecker tools furnished at the above 
figures are as follows: Grafenstaden miller, working surface of table, 
1,400 by 315 millimeters; J. E. Reinecker miller, working surface of 
.table, 1,250 by 350 millimeters. 



Fig. 3.—Motor-driven locomotive frame plate punching machine (Vulkan, Vienna, make). 
The price paid by Floridsdorf for this tool was 60,000 crowns (crown=20.3 cents). . 


Three heavy Lodge & Shipley engine lathes were observed in 
service. These tools were pronounced “ very good.” There is a line 
of Sellers grinders here for point drilling. I understand that these 
Sellers grinders were bought at the time of the Vienna Exposition. 
Some alterations have been made in the Sellers designs. When the 
spiral tool grinder patents were brought out they were bought by 
Floridsdorf for use in Austria. 

EUROPEAN TOOLS IN USE. 

The English firm of Alfred Herbert (Limited) has supplied a num¬ 
ber of tools of the hexagonal turret lathe and turret lathe types. 






26 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 


Many of the horizontal borers in use have been supplied by Grafen- 
staden. In Italy, Ernault horizontal borers were found doing a great 
part of the cylinder work, but at the Austrian shops the cylinder 
borers are mostly German tools. 

Richards & Co., of Broadheath, England, have supplied one long 
shaper. The standard shapers in use comprise many tools, the make 
of the Floridsdorf shops. 

The only French tool observed was from Bouhey, of Paris. This 
firm supplied a vertical miller. Most of the gears are being cut on 
tools furnished by Schiess and by Ducommun. 

Collett & Engelhard have supplied a heavy double vertical miller. 
This tool was at work milling fire-box foundation frames. The 
metal under service was soft Martin steel of the following quality: 
Tensional strain, 32-38 kilos per millimeter; percentage of elonga¬ 
tion, 30; percentage of contraction, 60. These Collett & Engelhard 
tools are very much in use in Continental locomotive works. 



Fig. 4.—Motor-driven locomotive frame slotting, boring, drilling and milling machine (Vulkan, 
Vienna, make). The price paid by Floridsdorf for this machine was 70,000 crowns. 


The Yulkan Works, of Vienna, have recently supplied a heavy 
punch tool for locomotive framing, which is shown in the illustration. 
This machine is capable of handling plates 12 meters long, 1,400 milli¬ 
meters wide, and 40 millimeters thick. The tool was at work punch¬ 
ing plates of 40 millimeters thickness. This was iron plate of 40 
kilos tensile strength per square millimeter. The diameter of the 
blanks after punching was two inches. 

MOTOR-DRIVEN MACHINE. 

A very fine motor-driven 3-frame slotting, boring, drilling, and 
milling machine from the Vulkan Works, of Vienna, was observed, 
which is shown herewith. This tool is designed for working up loco¬ 
motive frames in sets, and is capable of handling frames having 
maximum dimensions of 12 meters long, 1,600 millimeters wide, and 




MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 


27 


350 millimeters high. This machine has replaced a heavy slotter 
which was formerly used on plate frames, the make of Fairbairn, 
Kennedy & Naylor, of Leeds, England. The price paid for the Vul- 
kan punch machine was 60,000 crowns ($12,180), and the price paid 
for the slotting, boring, drilling, and milling machine was 70,000 
crowns ($14,210). 

The locomotive frames are handled in the Floridsdorf shops from 
tool to tool by electric cranes, and no hand labor is used in transport¬ 
ing these frames. 

Many of the small lathes in service at Floridsdorf were built at 
these shops. Bohler tool steel seems to be in general use at Florids¬ 
dorf. Pfaff, of Chemnitz, has supplied a number of lathes. It was 
also observed that Vulkan planers are fitted with electro-magnetic 
couplings. 

It is the practice in the Floridsdorf shops to use a roller press on 
shaft bearings, as the use of emery is not permitted on axles. A num¬ 
ber of heavy Whitworth lathes are installed in these shops. 

There are many Grafenstaden millers in use, and heavy Grafen- 
staden horizontal milling machines are used in milling shoe boxes 



Fig. 5.—Series 210 locomotive built by the Wiener Locomotive Fabriks-Actien-Gesellschaft, Florids¬ 
dorf, Vienna. 


and connecting rods of locomotives. Reinecker supplied one large 
4-spindle vertical miller, and also a number of tool grinders. Smith & 
Coventry, of Manchester, are also in evidence with tool grinders. All 
tool grinding is intrusted to a tool-grinding gang and individual 
workmen are forbidden to grind their own tools. 

LATEST TYPE LOCOMOTIVE. 

In 1908 Floridsdorf brought out its latest type of locomotive, pic¬ 
tured herewith, known as series 210, built to the design of the well- 
known engineer, Charles Golsdorf. This is a really superb machine 
and represents the very highest type in design, workmanship, and 
finish. The opinion is held at Floridsdorf that the general tendency 
is to increase boiler pressure, and Floridsdorf is operating series 210 
under 15 atmospheres pressure. The total length of boiler barrel is 
4,280 plus 1,450 millimeters, the latter representing the length of 
superheating room. The length of the fire box is 2,700 millimeters. 
The total amount of heating surface is 292.4 square meters; the grate 
surface is 4.62 square meters. This engine is a 4-cylinder machine, 
the dimensions of cylinders being: Two high-pressure cylinders, 









28 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN ATJSTRIA-HUNGARY. 


diameter 390 millimeters; 2 low-pressure cylinders, diameter 660 
millimeters; common stroke, 728 millimeters. The diameter of the 
driving wheel is 2,140 millimeters, and the diameter of the trailers 
and pilot wheels 1,034 millimeters. The fixed wheel base of this heavy 
engine is 2,220 millimeters. The total distance between the axle of 
the pilot wheel and the rear trailers (total wheel base) is 10,450 
millimeters. The total weight of the engine in working order is 84.5 
tons. 

The 210 series locomotive is capable of hauling, upon a gradient of 
1 per cent, 400 tons at a speed of over 60 kilometers (37.3 miles) per 
hour, and on a straight road 400 tons at a speed of over 100 to 105 
kilometers (62.1 to 65.2 miles) per hour. This engine develops about 
1,800 horsepower. 

HOURS OF LABOR AND WAGES. 

A week’s work at Floridsdorf involves 54 hours, a day being made 
up of 9 hours’ work. There is no overtime work. On a 9-hour-day 
basis the output at Floridsdorf is at present 10 locomotives per 
month. Good machinists receive on an average 65 hellers (13.2 
cents) per hour. Ventilation and attention to sanitation are excep¬ 
tionally good throughout the shops. Overhead heating is employed, 
and the tool drive, almost without exception, is electric. 

The Floridsdorf engines are held to be among the best turned out 
in Europe, and the attention to detail and high finish is of marked 
character. The discipline at the Floridsdorf shops forcibly im¬ 
presses one at the outset, and nowhere else in Austria-Hungary have 
I observed more evidence of welfare work for employees than at this 
plant. The company owns not less than 19 dwelling houses (180 
quarters), which are rented to the workmen. The prices at which these 
quarters are let are as follows, per week: For two rooms and kitchen, 
5.2 crowns ($1.02); for one room and kitchen, 3.8 crowns (77 cents). 
From the founding of the company up to 1908 the Floridsdorf Works 
have paid out in salaries and wages 37,500,000 crowns ($7,612,500). 

WIENER-NEUSTADT LOCOMOTIVE WORKS. 

The Wiener-Neustadt Locomotive Works are one of the important 
private locomotive plants in Austria. The shops are located in 
Wiener-Neustadt, a city of some 28,000 inhabitants, and distant about 
one hour’s time by fast train service from Vienna. In June, 1909, 
2,200 men were employed. General Director Richard Heindel af¬ 
forded every facility to inspect the shops. The full name of this 
establishment is Actien-Gesellschaft der Locomotivfabrik vormals 
G. Sigl in Wiener-Neustadt, During the summer of 1909 business 
was so good that foreign orders could not be accepted because of the 
heavy demands of the Austrian State Railways. Ordinarily, the 
Wiener-Neustadt shops are active bidders for locomotive work for 
the Roumanian, Servian, and Italian railways. 

CAPACITY AND OUTPUT. 

The total output capacity of the Neustadt plant is about 120 locomo¬ 
tives of all sizes per year. This is not a very heavy output when one 
considers the five locomotives per day capacity of one of the Ameri¬ 
can works, but in making comparison of this sort it is necessary to 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 


29 


reckon on the types of locomotives built. Wiener-Neustadt, in com¬ 
mon with other European shops, constructs copper fire boxes, and uses 
copper stays and bolts. Great care and attention are given to finish 
and appearance, and the idea prevails that a machine must operate for 
20 years or more. These views are opposed to American practice in 
so far as they subordinate immediate work capacity to longevity, and 
by work capacity I mean bar pull. Naturally in a shop where care 



Fig. 6.—Double plate-planing machine. This machine planes a length of 11 meters with one tool head 
and 6 meters with the second tool head. The side tool planes a length of 3 meters and can be set out of 
right angle to front of machine. The Vulkan Works also make this machine without belt drive on 
uprights, with direct motor drive, and gearing with Vulkan clutch. Each of the 3 motors are of 20 
horsepower. 


and attention to detail are of paramount consideration one expects to 
find good workmanship, and it may be stated that the work which 
came under my observation is of as high a standard as I have seen on 
the Continent of Europe. Observations of this sort are of course 
relative, and are based on comparisons. In visiting different shops 
one finds, perhaps, special aptitude in some particular detail more 
highly evinced at one rather than at several works. At Wiener- 
Neustadt the boiler work was especially noticeable, and aside from 





30 MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 

the good workmanship there this part of the establishment is the 
most modern and interesting. Locomotives of all sizes up to 1,200 
horsepower are built. The latter figure may not sound large com¬ 
pared with the 2,000-horsepower engines used on several leading rail¬ 
ways in the United States, but for Continental work 1,200-horse¬ 
power engines are very large engines. In the building of locomotives, 
when called upon to supply superheaters for the Austrian State Kail- 
ways, recourse is had to the Golsdorf type. 


Fig. 7.— Hydraulic plate-bending machine. This tool can be utilized for bending boiler plates up to 10 
feet in width and 1 \ inches thick. 

The Wiener-Neustadt Works have been in existence for about 50 
j^ears. Tools are in service to-day in the shops which have been used 
for upward of 40 years. One man stated in my presence that he had 
been working steadily at the same machine for 28 years. The tool 
was a Sigl lathe for turning down crank shafts. This man receives 
between 8 and 9 kronen per day (1 krone=20.3 cents). 

EXTENSION OF WORKS. 

At the outset the efforts of the plant must have been devoted in 
part to machine-tool construction, for many tools were observed bear- 


















MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 31 

ing the name of Sigl, the originator of the works. The history of the 
establishment was not without vicissitudes, and in recent years sev¬ 
eral changes have been made in the management. General Director 
Heindel has been in control during the past two years, and the busy 
appearance of the shops gives every indication of prosperous condi¬ 
tions. New additions are constantly being made, and during the 
year 1909 a sum approximating 2,000,000 kronen ($400,000) was 
expended on new boiler and machine shops. The new machine shops 
are quite apart from the old works, and while the buildings are com¬ 
pleted and machine tools are being installed, the equipment is not 
complete. It is very apparent the management contemplates many 
important additions to the machine-tool equipment, both to meet the 
demands of the new shops and to modernize the older portions of the 
works. This is seemingly the policy that is planned, and one which 
should be borne in mind by manufacturers possessing high-grade 
machine tools especially adapted to locomotive work. The entire 
spirit of the Wiener-Neustadt administration is eminently progress¬ 
ive, and it is my opinion that manufacturers producing machine tools 
of more than ordinary merit will find that any representations they 
make on the subject will be welcomed at this establishment. 

MACHINES EMPLOYED. 

The Wiener-Neustadt Works are building all locomotives on the 
plate-frame form. These plate frames are cut out with oxygen gas. 
In this respect the Wiener-Neustadt shops follow the Borsig prac¬ 
tice. Practically all material entering into the locomotive construc¬ 
tion comes from Austrian territory. In all, there are about 1,300 
machine tools in service in the works. In the original shops, in fact 
in all the buildings except those erected during the past two years, 
one finds many old tools. The name “ Sigl ” is on many of these tools, 
yet Sigl, as a machine-tool maker, no longer exists. In the new shops 
there are many German tools, although a Bullard boring mill Avas 
noticed in one of the latest-installed sections. The Vulkan Works, 
of Vienna, have supplied a number of machines of a varied 
sort. The lathes used in general are very old, but it was gratifying 
to observe that in recent additions an American tool was on the 
ground in the shape of a heavy 20-inch Lodge & Shipley engine 
lathe. There were quite a number of unmistakable American-made 
tools on the floors, but with the names of the makers missing. 

The planers used are, for the most part, as old as the general run 
of the lathes. There are only two modern planers, so far as could be 
observed, in the entire plant. These two were from the G. A. Gray 
Company, Cincinnati, Ohio. 

AMERICAN AND OTHER FOREIGN TOOLS. 

Four slotters from Bement, Miles & Co., Philadelphia, were seen. 
The name and numbers of the machines were cast in the framing and 
had not been effaced. The numbers were 680, 712, 713, and 715. 
Prentice Brothers Company, of Worcester, Mass., are represented 
by a greater number of tools than any other American firm. The 
Prentice machines are for the most part upright drills. There was 
one unmistakable Gisholt turret lathe, but with the name missing. 


32 MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 

The shaper line at this works is also old. There is one line of 
crank-shapers in service emanating from Vulkan which was installed 
fully 30 years ago. 

Some of the more recent German-made tools in use are heavy ma¬ 
chines, and nearly all, or the more conspicuous, are to be found in the 
new shops. Grafenstaden has supplied several tools for cylinder bor¬ 
ing. Sondermann & Stier, of Chemnitz, have supplied several heavy 
vertical drills, and D. G. Diehl, of the same place, has also been 
drawn on extensively. 

There are very few English tools in service. I saw only Kendall 
& Gent radial drills and some slotters from Maclea & March. 

A Mayer & Schmidt vertical grinding machine was present, but 
was criticised. In previous reports it has been mentioned that the 
opinion prevails that American grinding machines are not equaled 
by the best grinding machines of European make. 

All tools in the Wiener-Neustadt Works are to be operated by elec¬ 
tric power, either from motor attached or by overhead shafts driven 
by electric motors placed at various points throughout the shops. 
Two Parsons turbine engines have been installed and furnish col¬ 
lectively about 1,600 horsepower. 

The Saechs Maschinenfabrik vorm. Rich. Hartmann, of Chemnitz, 
and Ernst Schiess, of Dusseldorf, have supplied some heavy tools 
for Wiener-Neustadt. Schiess is represented by a heavy tool for turn¬ 
ing off locomotive wheel tires, and Hartmann has supplied a heavy 
turning and boring machine. 

In the boiler shops there is a 15-meter long machine from the Vul¬ 
kan Works, of Vienna, designed for drilling plates. Sondermann & 
Stier have furnished a 4-spindle machine for drilling boiler heads, 
a tool not unlike that made by the Foote-Burte Company, Cleveland, 
Ohio. There is also a 5-spindle machine in service for the same 
character of work from the German firm of J. A. Maffei, Munich. 
Practically all the heavy tool orders seem to have been taken by the 
Germans. The American tools in service at the Wiener-Neustadt 
Works include the following: 

Prentice Brothers Company, Worcester, Mass_Drills. 

Bullard Machine Tool Company, Bridgeport, Conn_Boring mill. 

Bement, Miles & Co., Philadelphia_Slotters. 

American Tool Works Company, Cincinnati_Lathe and drills. 

G. A. Gray Company, Cincinnati__Planers. 

Lodge & Shipley Machine Tool Company, Cincinnati--Lathe. 

Bickford Machine Tool Company, Cincinnati_Radial drill. 

Gisholt Machine Company, Madison, Wis_Turret lathe and vertical 

turret lathe. 

The pneumatic tools in use in the boiler shops are of German make. 
There are in use also tools made in England, Austria-Hungary, and 
Switzerland. 

A day’s work at Wiener-Neustadt embraces 9J hours. Work com¬ 
mences at 7 a. m. and stops at 6 p. m., with an interval of 1J hours 
at midday. On Saturdays the shops close at 5 p. m. The men are 
paid on the basis of a fixed valuation for work performed. If the 
work is not completed by the week end, the workmen are given ad¬ 
vances on the final price for the work. Good workmen at Wiener- 
Neustadt receive wages varying from 8 to 9 kronen ($1.62 to $1.83) 
per day. In exceptional cases sums as high as 12 kronen ($2.44) per 
day are earned. 








MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 33 

DAIMLER WORKS. 

The installation of machine tools at the Austrian Daimler Works 
is one of the best I have seen in Europe. This statement applies with 
special reference to automobile plants. The Austrian establishment 
is located in Wiener-Neustadt, a city distant about one hour’s rail- 
way ride south of Vienna. The full name of this Austrian concern 
is Oesterreichische Daimler-Motoren-Gesellscliaft. In visiting the 
Daimler shops I expected to see an up-to-date plant, but was not pre¬ 
pared to find one of the first shops in Europe. The works fairly bris¬ 
tle with high-grade American machine tools. At the entrance of the 
main building the first tools encountered were three Gleason gear 
planers. “ Those Gleasons have never been idle,” said Doctor Horo- 
vitz. “ They have been running steadily for two years, and always 
accurately.” 

A little farther on was a line of five Gisholt vertical turret lathes 
doing a greater variety of work than I have seen them put to in any 



Fig. 8.—Armored cars. 


European shop. They have good workmen here, but I suspect that 
special instruction has been given, for the “ wrinkles ” of the Gisholts 
are apparently thoroughly understood. In the vertical milling line 
it is all Becker-Brainard machines. I know of no one American 
machine tool in higher favor among European shops than the Becker 
vertical miller, and time and again the writer has been asked why it 
is that Becker does not increase his sizes. In the Becker group there 
was observed one No. 4 B, one No. 3, four No. 5, and three No. 6 
machines. In the horizontal, plain, and universal miller line, Cin¬ 
cinnati milling machines are alone in use. No other American millers 
of this class, so far as I could see, are present. I estimate that there 
are in service at least ten Cincinnati millers of the No. 2 and No. 3 
universal types. 

Hendey/Prentice Brothers, and Bradford lathes of the medium 
sizes divide all honors in the engine-lathe class. Warner & Swasey 
have on the floors a couple of fine hexagonal turret lathes of the No. 
2 size, and Gisholt also is in evidence with turret lathes. There is a 

H, Doc. 913, 61-2-3 



34 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 


Gould & Eberhardt gear cutter in service, but between the Gleason 
and the Gould & Eberhardt machines is a group of four hob machines 
supplied by Schuchardt & Schiitte. These hob machines are devoid 
of manufacturer’s name. The same firm of agents supplied two 
shapers, but the shapers are without the name of the maker. There 
are several foreign lathes in use, but they are of the heavier types. 
Hessemuller is one of the German makers who has been drawn upon 
for lathes. It being noticed that a couple of Potter & Johnston auto¬ 
matic machines were lying idle, Doctor Horovitz stated that* work 
was too slack to use these machines to advantage. 

FIRE ESCAPE AND MILITARY AND TRANSPORT VEHICLES. 

The Daimler Works operate the Daimler patents, but with the 
exception of the patent interests invested the company comprises 
only Austrian capital. In addition to a line of automobiles, the 
company is turning out a number of important military wagons, 
and is also building as a specialty a type of fire-escape vehicle. The 



Fig. 9.—Military transport wagon. 


latter is in service in Berlin and Vienna. These fire-escape vehicles 
are electrically driven by means of motors directly attached to the 
wheel hubs. This arrangement does away with chain drives and 
permits of instant dispatch of the vehicle. Holland has drawn on 
Austrian Daimler for these fire-escape machines. 

Transport wagons of all descriptions are undertaken by Daimler, 
and it was clearly evident that there was more originality in this line 
than at any shop I have visited on the Continent. Daimler draws 
largely on Chillingsworth, of Nurnberg, for chassis frames, and on 
Firminy, France, for springs. Poldihiitte, of Austria, also furnishes 
some of the springs, and Bielefelder Press & Ziehwerke, of Brack- 
wede, Germany, also supply chassis frames. 

The differential boxes as turned out here are made of pressed steel. 
All ball bearings in use are purchased and come for the most part 
from the Loewe Ammunition Works in Berlin, Fichtel & Sachs, 
Schweinfurth, and Oest. Kugellagerwerke, Vienna. 

My attention was called to two 90-horsepower 6-cylinder machines 
building for the Austrian Government, designed to carry guns up to 









MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 


35 


20 tons weight. I was advised that as many as 30 special gun-wagon 
machines had been built. All four wheels are driven, and the 
machines are built with special reference to mountain service. These 
machines, I was informed, will negotiate under a 20-ton gun load 
a very high per cent grade. The steel for the wheels for the military 
wagons is furnished by Georg Fisher, of Schaffhausen, Switzerland, 
who gives a 5-year guaranty. 

ELECTRICAL, BENZOLE, AND PETROLEUM POWER. 

Daimler is manufacturing engines to use benzole as well as petro¬ 
leum. In the electrically driven machines the Daimler practice 
favors building the motors directly in the hubs, and thereby avoid 
all transmission system. The accumulators for these electrical ma¬ 
chines are carried between the chassis frames partly in a built-in box, 
partly under the bonnet. 

The traffic wagons building by Daimler are electrically driven and 
are designed to cover 100 kilometers (kilometer=0.62 mile). These 



Fig. 10.—Military transport wagon using winding gear on grade. 


cars have a 30-kilometer-per-hour speed. Still another specialty 
of Daimler is an electric omnibus designed to move by overhead wire, 
but without rails. Systems of the latter sort are recommended for 
extension of trolley lines in the country where good roads are avail¬ 
able. Motors for boats are also built at these works. 

The leading technical engineer at the Daimler Works is Herr 
Porsche, who is also director of the works. He was originally of the 
firm of Lohner-Porsche. A combination of the old Austrian Daim¬ 
ler Works and the Lohner-Porsche firm w r as effected, and the elec¬ 
trical patents of the latter were purchased for the new firm. 

In connection with the electrically driven engines and vehicles for 
fire service, the Daimler system is equally suitable for adoption on 
the front wheels and on the rear wheels, but the standard type is front 
driven. A standard design has been adopted for carrying weights as 
high as 5,800 pounds. The weight of the batteries is from 1,600 to 
2,000 pounds. The battery consists of 80 or 84 lead cells, the rated 
charging being 220 volts. The whole of the cells are distributed in 
four boxes. The capacity is commonly 120 to 160 ampere-hours. A 





36 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 


radius of 38 miles is claimed, the consumption current remaining 
below 90 watt-hours per 1 ton-mile. 

The motor has inner magnetic poles. The magnetic “star” is 
fastened on the axle when rear wheels are driven, or on a hollow 
axle stump, turning round pivots, when the chassis is front driven. 
The anchor is an outer one. The coils are manufactured of flat 
copper ribbon. The collectors are of plain type and are disposed on 
the outer side of the motor wheels. Five speeds forward and three 



-Fig. 11.—Military transport wagons. 


speeds backward are obtained. There are three positions for elec¬ 
tric breakings. Solid rubber tires are used on these vehicles. 


AMERICAN TOOLS IN SERVICE. 

The American machine tools in service in the Daimler Works in¬ 
clude the following: 

Lapointe Machine Tool Co., Hudson, Mass_No. 3 machine. 

Waltham Watch Tool Co., Springfield__No. 2 Van Norman duplex 

miller. 

Becker-Brainard Milling Machine Co., Hyde Park_.Vertical milling machines. 

Hulbert-Rogers Machine Co., South Sudbury_Cutting-off machines. 

Prentice Brothers Co., Worcester_Lathes, drills. 

Millers Falls Company, Millers Falls_Saw machines. 

Potter & Johnston Machine Co., Pawtucket, It. I_Automatic turret lathes. 

Hendey Machine Co., Torrington, Conn_Lathes. 

Gould & Eberhardt, Newark, N. J__Gear cutter No. 640. 

American Gas Furnace Co., Elizabeth_Gas furnaces. 

John L. Bogert, Flushing, N. Y_Machine for turning down 

crank pins. 

Gleason Tool Co., Rochester_.Gear planers. 

C. C. Bradley & Son, Syracuse_Hammer. 

Landis Tool Co., Waynesboro, Pa_Grinders. 

Springfield Machine Tool Co., Springfield, Ohio_Shapers. 

Baker Brothers, Toledo_Keyseaters. 

Fosdick Machine Tool Co., Cincinnati_Radial drills. 

Tucker Machine Co., Cincinnati_*_Grinders. 

Cincinnati Machine Tool Co., Cincinnati_Vertical drills. 

Bradford Machine Tool Co., Cincinnati_Lathe. 

Cincinnati Milling Machine Co., Cincinnati_Millers. 

Bickford Drill and Tool Co., Cincinnati_Radial drills. 

Acme Machinery Co., Cleveland_ v _Bolt cutter. 

Cleveland Automatic Machine Co., Cleveland_Seven machines. 

Warner & Swasey Co., Cleveland_Hexagonal turret lathes. 

Gisholt Machine Co., Madison, Wis-Vertical and horizontal turret 

lathes. 


































MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 


37 


The total number of machine tools in the Daimler Works is 3G0, 
nearly all of which were bought within the past 3 years. The total 
cost of this installation—that is, the total cost of the machine tools 
laid down in Wiener-Naustadt—was approximately 1,200,000 kronen 
(1 krone=20.3 cents). 

COST OF MACHINES-WILLINGNESS TO ADOPT IMPROVEMENTS. 

The prices paid by Daimler for various machine tools in use, in¬ 
cluding spare parts and accessories, were as follows: 

John L. Bogert, machine for turning down crank pins, No. 22, $2,000. Pren¬ 
tice Brothers Company, lathe, 255 by 1,600 by 3,050 mm., $860; vertical drills, 
w. p. Id. $111. Hendey Machine Company, lathe, 205 by TOO by 1,830 mm., $6S8. 
Gisholt Machine Company, turret lathe, No. II, $2,647; vertical turret lathes, 
No. 0, $1,631. Landis Tool Company, grinders, No. 11, $926. Warner & Swasey 
Company, hexagonal turret lathes, No. II, $1,760; hollow hexagon revolver 
lathe, $1,535. Potter & Johnston Machine Company, automatic turret lathes, 
No. II, $2,619. Cleveland Automatic Machine Company, 51 mm. automatics, 
3-spindle, $1,208; No. 11 automatics, 5-spindle, $2,000. Gleason Works, gear 
planers, No. I, $2,033. Becker-Brainard Milling Machine Company, vertical 
milling machines, No. IV, C, $935. Cincinnati Milling Machine Company, mill¬ 
ing machine, No. 2. $805. Lucas Machine Tool Company, press for 30 atms., 
$545. C. C, Bradley & Son, hammers, A No. IV, $1,133. Yahley, pneumatic 
hammer, II, lh. IV, $1,7S9. 

The Daimler Works may be regarded as a fixture among Austrian 
industrial plants. Whereas conditions were quiet at this establish¬ 
ment at the time of my visit in June, this state of affairs is held to be 
temporary. The men who are now at the head of the Daimler shops 
may be expected to be on the outlook at all times for the best machine 
tools obtainable regardless of origin, and no American manufacturer 
should hesitate to make known to the Daimler management the avail¬ 
ability of tools possessing merit. American machine tools are at 
present in high favor at the Daimler Works, and it behooves manu¬ 
facturers to keep this firm advised of all developments in machine- 
tool lines. American directors who pass through Vienna may well 
spend a day by dropping down to Wiener-Neustadt and visiting both 
the Daimler Works and the Neustadt locomotive shops. By fast 
train the time is about one hour. 

The foreign machine tools in the Daimler Works include the fol¬ 
lowing : 

Friedr. Schmaltz, Offenbach, Germany_Vertical grinder. 

Ludwig Loewe, A. G., Berlin_Lathe, shapers, and turret 

lathes. 

Werkzeugmascliinenfabrik Ludwigshafen, H. ITes- 

semuller_Heavy lathe. 

Billeter & Klunz, Aschersleben, Germany-Hammer. 

Maschinenfabrik Lorenz, Baden, Germany-Slotters, and vertical drills. 

Schuchardt & Schtitte, Berlin, Germany-Hob machines and shapers. 

(No name of makers on 
machines.) 

Joh. Muller, Vienna, Austria-Planer. 









38 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 


BUDAPEST LOCOMOTIVE WORKS. 

The Budapest Locomotive Works are turning out several types of 
locomotives more nearly approaching American standards than will 
probably be found in any other European shops. The writer bases 
this statement on personal inspections of leading locomotive estab¬ 
lishments in Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, France, and Austria. 
It may be said further that the Prairie and Atlantic types of loco¬ 
motives, which the Hungarian State Railway shops are now turning 
out in Budapest, are unexcelled on the Continent. These Prairie 
and Atlantic types are complete American locomotives. Imagine 
one of the most modern of the big Prairie class of engines of the 
Chicago-Denver lines, equipped with copper fire boxes and copper 
stay-bolted throughout, with a valve gear of the highest efficiency, 
with a machining on all engine parts fit for exposition display, and 
one has a picture of the new Hungarian locomotive. There is still 
another feature which should be mentioned: These Hungarian loco¬ 
motives are designed and built to do service for 20 years and more. 

There is undoubtedly a strong American sentiment among the 
Budapest engineers, and recently the Budapest locomotive officials 
suggested that it might be advisable to follow the American practice 
and substitute steel fire boxes for the very expensive copper equip¬ 
ment. It is said that the question was not discussed officially, but 
was more in the nature of a suggestion in case copper prices should 
advance materially. 

EUROPEAN VERSUS AMERICAN LOCOMOTIVES. 

Attention has been repeatedly called to the exacting attention to 
detail and high finish demanded in the European trade. European 
locomotive builders have repeatedly stated that they wished it were 
possible to escape from many of the seemingly unnecessary condi¬ 
tions imposed upon them by designs and specifications. It should be 
understood, however, that many of these designs emanate from gov¬ 
ernment sources, and throughout Europe in general a very large part 
of the locomotive building is for government-owned railways. The 
standard set by these government requirements has a marked influ¬ 
ence on locomotive building, even to private orders. The pace has 
apparently been set in Europe which admits of competition only on 
the part of engines of the highest design and finish. Here is one 
of the principal reasons why American-built locomotives are prac¬ 
tically excluded from the European field. This does not imply that 
our own locomotive shops can not meet European requirements. The 
distinction is one of conditions attending the building of locomo¬ 
tives. The requirements in Europe and the United States are not 
the same. 

OPENING FOR AMERICAN EQUIPMENT. 

The Budapest Locomotive Works are owned by the Hungarian 
State and controlled by the Ministry of Finances. The correct name 
and address of the plant is Magyar Kiralyi Allamvasutak Gep- 
gyara, Budapest, Hungary. In English, these works may be properly 
referred to as the Machinery Works of the Royal Hungarian State 
Railways. 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 39 

Under the personal escort of Engineer-in-chief Bela Kanitzer 
every facility was afforded to see both the work in progress and the 
machine-tool installation. The number of men employed in June, 
1909, was not less than 4,200, and the machine-tool installation com¬ 
prises more than 2,000 machines of every design and make. The most 
exacting work is conducted in the building of not only locomotives, 
but gas engines, engines for motor cars and locomobiles, and yet, 
throughout this entire plant, the entire lot of American machines in 
service does not exceed 16 tools. 

In all Europe there is probably no field so open to American 
machine-tool manufacturers as Hungary. There are other countries 
which readity buy American machine tools. France, for example, 
has long been an excellent customer of the United States, but the 
French buy American machine tools largely because of the merit of 
the machines. In Hungary there is a strong pro-American senti¬ 
ment. The very word “America ” appeals to the Hungarian mind, 
and the cordiality and hospitality accorded to visitors from the 
United States is usually of a marked character. The Hungarians 
may be expected to be prejudiced in favor of American products. 
Why, then, are there not more American machine tools in these great 
Hungarian plants? The answer received from one prominent Hun¬ 
garian official was a query in return, “ Why is it that Americans do 
not come to us in person ? ” 

Many machine tools from Alfred Herbert (Limited), of Coventry, 
England, were found in the Budapest locomotive shops. Mr. Kanitzer 
said that Herbert’s engineers paid periodical visits to Budapest and 
personally instructed the locomotive workmen in the management of 
Herbert machines. An inspector from Coventry comes to Budapest 
at varied intervals and personally takes notice of the running of the 
tools. Herbert has gone further, and induced the locomotive works 
authorities to send over to Coventry five of the leading workmen 
from the Budapest shops. These men will be instructed at Coventry 
and will undoubtedly learn much regarding the varied lines of ma¬ 
chines as manufactured for modern-day requirements. 

The language which Americans should speak in Hungary is 
English; if not English, then French. 

FOUNDING AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE WORKS. 

The present Budapest Locomotive Works may be said to date from 
1868. In that year a Belgian firm, A. & E. Gillain, established The 
Hungarian-Belgian Machine and Ship Building Company. The 
Gillains formerly possessed machine works in Brunn, which they gave 
up for the new shops in Budapest. The Gillain firm was forced into 
liquidation in 1870, and the works passed into the hands of the Hun¬ 
garian Government. Incidental to the failure of the Gillain com¬ 
pany was the liquidation of the Swiss Carriage Works at Budapest. 
The Hungarian Government likewise secured the latter plant and 
united it with the Gillian works. The combined shops were turned 
over to the Engine and Carriage Works of the Royal Hungarian State 
Railways. 

It would seem as if the Hungarian authorities were not desirous of 
maintaining the shops under government administration, so in 1871 
both of the shops incorporated and submitted to a separate adminis- 


40 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 


tration. Director Frederick Zimmermann was intrusted with the 
locomotive shops, under the inspection of the council of administra¬ 
tion of the Hungarian State Railways. Largely due to Mr. Zimmer- 
mann’s energy, the works developed, but the growth of the plant was 
a most uncertain one. Between 1874 and 1878 the shop was compelled 
to undertake almost any order that was obtainable to insure keeping 
the workmen employed. On one occasion the finances were in such a 
precarious state that it was found necessary to separate the original 
factory as a works chiefly for new locomotives and to assign the 
administration to the Royal Hungarian State Railways. In 1880 the 
administration of the Royal Hungarian Iron Works in Diosgyor was 
united with the Budapest Locomotive Works, the combination being 
known as The Machinery Works of the Royal Hungarian State Rail¬ 
ways and The Diosgyor Iron and Steel Works. This arrangement 
existed until 1900. Since that time the shops have had their own chief 
(at present Royal Counsellor Paul Roth), but with other state iron 
works are under General Director Charles Vajkay, head clerk of the 
Ministerial Department, otherwise the Central Direction of the Royal 
Hungarian State Iron Works, Budapest. 

At the Paris World’s Fair in 1878 the Budapest shops entered a 
locomotive and a 200-horsepower steam engine, the latter fitted with a 
special patented valve motion. The building of locomotives, however, 
may be said to date from 1877. In 1879 the shops undertook to build 
steam thrashing machines. Prior to this time Hungary had been 
dependent almost wholty on England for steam thrashers. 

In 1896 the combined organization made a most notable exhibit at 
the Budapest Exposition. The main machinery hall at that exposi¬ 
tion was built at the Budapest Locomotive Works. It was a superb 
arched steel construction, having a length of 62 meters (203 feet), a 
width of 26 meters (85.3 feet), and an extreme height of 20 meters 
(65.6 feet). At the close of the exposition this main machinery build¬ 
ing was removed and reerected 'on the ground of the Budapest Loco¬ 
motive Works, and is to-day, in the main newly built and considerably 
enlarged, one of the principal erecting shops of this plant.. 

MACHINERY DEPARTMENT AND MACHINE TOOLS. 

The very general recourse to shaping machines was first in evidence. 
All sorts of jobs are handled in the Budapest shops on shapers, and 
the regret is that there is not one American shaper, at least so far as 
one could see, anywhere in the works. The presence of a couple of 
high-class American shaping tools on the Budapest floors might effect 
a very material change in the situation. There is a boring mill in 
service which was supplied about fifteen years ago by Bement, Miles 
& Co., of Philadelphia. The same company furnished a planer. The 
boring mill, it was stated, has done very good work. There was a 
machine from the Lodge & Davis Machine Tool Company, of Cincin¬ 
nati, and also a Niles horizontal boring machine. There was only a 
mere handful of tools of American origin, and it was very evident 
that American machine tools are not reaching the Budapest loco¬ 
motive shops. 

Among the foreign and Hungarian tools present were many lathes 
and shapers from the Vulkan Works; this firm has a new plant at 
Budapest. Still another Hungarian firm, viz, the .Hungarian Gun 
and Machine Works, has supplied a number of tools. Zimmerman, 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGAEY. 


41 


of Chemnitz, has supplied numerous radial drills. Other foreign 
makers represented included such names as Ducommun; Joh. Muller, 
of Vienna; Gebriider Bohringer; Alfred Herbert; Maclea & March, 
of Leeds; Sondermann & Stier; Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik A. G., 
Cologne; Heinrich Ehrhardt; Oerlikon; Webster & Bennett; Kirch- 
ner; J. & C. J. Bollingers, and special tools from Maffei, of Munich, 
and from Bechem & Keetman, of Duisburg. 

There was a comparatively larger number of boring mills and 
vertical turret lathes in service than one is accustomed to see in 
Continental shops of this character. 

ELECTRIC POWER-PLANING AND FINISHING. 

At the present only a portion of the Budapest Works is provided 
with electric power for machine tools. There is one 1,000-horse¬ 
power Zoellv turbine in the central station. This turbine was built 
by Lang, it is understood that it is the intention to afford electric 
drive for all the shops. 

Ludwig Loewe, of Berlin, and the Karlsruhe firm of G. Schwindt 
& Co. have supplied a large number of planers. The Austrian firm 
of Vulkan has also supplied planers. Some of these Vulkan planers 
are fitted with an electric controlling gear, which is well spoken 
of. Practically all engine parts are machined on shapers. Zim- 
mermann and Vulkan are most in evidence with this last type of 
tool. Engineer-in-Chief Kanitzer states that he prefers to finish off 
the edges of all plate framing with slotters; he does not care to mill 
the edges. Vertical millers and horizontal millers are used to some 
extent in machining engine parts, but as a rule shapers are called 
upon to do the greater part of the work. There is a type of slotters 
in service, as supplied by the Cologne Works, which is not unlike an 
American slotter. The Vulkan shops have installed several very large 
planers, and the Munich Locomotive Works have recently furnished a 
special and very large machine for plate punching. Martin steel is 
used for locomotive frames. 

The wheel castings for the railway equipment come from Diosgyor, 
and the tires from Kesicza. All the drills used by the Budapest shops 
have been supplied by Vulkan and by Zimmermann, of Chemnitz. 
German pneumatic tools are for the most part in use, although Mr. 
Kanitzer states that there are American and English pneumatic tools 
in service. A great many old screw machines are in operation, and 
quite a number of these are of German make. Such new screw ma¬ 
chines as are going in appear to have been supplied by Herbert, of 
Coventry. There is at least one Worthington pump in service, but 
the valve-gear construction was criticised, and the pump in general, 
it was claimed, was badly made. On the locomotives, Ashton safety 
valves are used. 

OUTPUT OF THE BUDAPEST SHOPS. 

The Budapest shops have turned out 173 locomotives in one year. 
For 1909 the output, it was stated, must be 208, and for the year 1910 
the orders in hand require an output of 250 locomotives. 

The Budapest shops are building 4-cylinder compound locomo¬ 
tives designed for service under 16 atmospheres pressure. Schmidt 
superheaters are employed when the design calls for superheaters. 
The valve gear is of the Heusinger type modified for a 4-cylinder 


42 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 


machine. This valve gear is of the piston type. The practice is fol¬ 
lowed of casting in one piece the pair of cylinders required for com¬ 
pound locomotives. The two cylinders are bored at the same time. 
A fine new boiler shop, modern in every respect, is being erected and 
a number of new tools are now going in. Two new machines for the 
boiler shops were recently received from Maffei, of Munich, for drill¬ 
ing boiler heads. 

The Budapest locomotive shops are allowed a credit by the Hun¬ 
garian State Railways of 1.8 crowns per kilo (36J cents per 2.2 
pounds) on new locomotive construction. 

The Budapest Works have undertaken a notable share of the most 
important of the bridge work in Hungary. Of the six bridges at 
Budapest across the Danube, five were built by these works. One is 
a suspension bridge with an arch 293 meters (961 feet) in length. 
The sixth bridge is also a suspension bridge, constructed in 1848 by 
the English engineer, William Clark. 

In addition to locomotive and bridge work, the Budapest shops 
are now building agricultural machines and will shortly take up in 



Fig 12.—High-speed locomotive, type In, built by the Budapest Locomotive Shops for the Royal 
Hungarian State Railways. 


earnest the building of automobile traffic cars. The Orion type will 
be employed. It is found possible to sell about 400 thrashing ma¬ 
chines per annum. The capacity of the shops is about 700 of these 
machines per year. 

The Hungarian State Railway is operating a fast train service be¬ 
tween Budapest and Pozsony. The writer traveled on one heavy 
train hauled out of Budapest by an Atlantic-type locomotive. The 
engine was coupled to a Vanderbilt form of tender, and, save for a 
few local features, one might have thought the engine had been 
taken from a New York Central roundhouse. The Hungarian engi¬ 
neer carried his heavy train up the steep grade leading into Pozsony 
in a manner that would do him credit in the United States. These 
powerful Prairie and Atlantic locomotives are fully proving their 
traction qualities in this territory. The Hungarian railway gage is 
1.435 meters (4.706 feet). The Prairie type of engine, as built at 
Budapest, has nearly reached the limit of height permissible on the 
Hungarian railways, and whatever further increase is found possible 
must necessarily be slight. 






MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY 


43 


DETAILS OF CONSTRUCTION. 

In point of general finish and appearance there are no better loco¬ 
motives in Europe than those turned out from the Hungarian shops. 
The general dimensions of the leading types are as follows: 


Description. 


Dimension. 


Type In. — High-speed locomotive 
(shown in illustration). 


Description. 


Dimension. 


Type III S.— For high-speed freight 
and passenger trains —Continued. 


Diameter of high and low pressure 


cylinders.mm.. 

Stroke of both pistons.do_ 

Diameter of: 

Driving wheels.do»... 

Fore truck wheels.do_ 

Back truck wheels.do.. . 

Working pressure, per square cen¬ 
timeter .kilos.. 

Greatest power of traction_do- 

Length of boiler.mm.. 

Diameter of boiler.do— 

Grate surface.m. 2 .. 

Tubes.number.. 

Length of tubes over tube sheets, 

mm. 

Diameter of tubes outside.mm.. 

Heating surface: 

Of tubes.m. 2 .. 

In fire box.do_ 

Total. 

Highest pressure upon the brake 
shoe.kilos.. 

I and II wheel base.mm.. 

II and III wheel base.do— 

III and IV wheel base.do- 

IV andV wheel base.do— 

Total wheel base.do— 

Gage .do- 

Length.do- 

Width.do.... 

Height.do- 

Weight of locomotive: 

Empty.tons.. 

In working order.do- 

Rail pressure: 

I wheel.do— 

II wheel.do- 

III wheel.do— 

IV wheel.do— 

V wheel.do— 


TENDER. 


Water capacity.liters.. 

Coal capacity.tons.. 

Diameter of wheels.mm.. 

Total base.do— 

Weight of tender: 

Empty.tons.. 

In working order.do— 

Ratio of brake level. 


Pressure upon the brake shoes.kilos.. 

Type III S. — For high-speed freight 
and passenger trains. 

Diameter of high and low pressure 


cylinders.mm.. 

Stroke of both pistons.do— 

Diameter: 

Driving wheels.do- 

Truck wheels.do.... 

Working pressure per square centi¬ 
meter .kilos.. 


360,620 

660 

2,100 

1,040 

1,220 

16 
7,820 
9,500 
1,600 
3.9 
291 

5,250 
52 


249. 63 
12. 95 


262.58 


46,704 


2,400 
1,850 
2, 200 
3,330 


9,780 


1,435 
12,934 
3,100 
4,570 

67.06 
74.36 

13.155 
13. 705 
15. 875 
15.810 
15.815 


18,000 

8 

875 

5,050 

21,430 
48,095 
13 

26,000 


360, 620 
660 

1,606 

1,040 

16 


Greatest power of traction_kilos.. 

Length of boiler.do_ 

Diameter of boiler.do_ 

Grate surface.m. 2 .. 

Tubes.number.. 

Length of tubes over tube sheets, 

mm. 

Diameter of tubes outside.mm.. 

Heating surface: 

Of tubes.m. 2 .. 

In fire box.do_ 

Total.do_ 

Highest pressure upon the brake 
shoe.kilos.. 

land II wheel base.mm.. 

II and III wheel base.do_ 

III and IV wheel base.do_ 

IV and V wheel base.do_ 


10,200 

9.150 
1,600 

3.92 

291 

5.150 
52 


243.84 
12.95 


256.79 


29,754 


2,550 
1,850 
1,750 
3,000 


Total wheel base 


do.... 


9,150 


Gage.do_ 

Length.do_ 

Width.do_ 

Height.do_ 

Weight of locomotive: 

Empty.tons.. 

In working order.do_ 

Rail pressure on: 

I wheel.do_ 

II wheel.do_ 

III wheel.do— 

IV wheel..do— 

V wheel.do_ 

TENDER. 

Water capacity.liters.. 

Coal capacit y .tons.. 

Diameter of wheels.mm.. 

Total base.do— 

Weight of tender: 

Empty.tons.. 

In working order.do- 

Ratio of brake level. 


Pressure upon brake shoes.. .kilos. 

Type TV.—For secondary lines. 
Diameter of high and low pressure 


cylinders.mm.. 

Stroke of both pistons.do- 

Diameter of: 

Driving wheels.do— 

Truck wheels.do— 

Working pressure, per square cen¬ 
timeter .kilos.. 

Length of boiler.mm.. 

Greatest power of traction-kilos.. 

Diameter of boiler.mm.. 

Grate surface.m. 2 .. 

Tubes .number.. 

Length of tubes over tube sheets, 

mm... 

Diameter of tubes outside.mm.. 

Heating surface: 

Of tubes.m. 2 .. 

In fire box.do— 

Total heating surface.do— 


1,436 

12,294 

3,100 

4,570 

64.370 
71.205 

12.345 
15.645 
15. 240 
15.600 
12.375 


26,000 
8 

1,050 

4,770 

22. 780 
56.140 
6.9 
27. 300 


390, 590 
600 

1,180 

950 

14 

6,860 

6,660 

1,300 

1.85 

163 

3,800 
52 

95.00 

8.50 

103.50 





























































































































44 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-IIUNGARY. 


Description. 


Dimension. 

Type TV .—For secondary lines 
tinued. 

—Con- 


Highest pressure upon the 

brake 

11,748 

shoe... 

kilos.. 

I and II wheel base. 


2,495 

II and III wheel base. 

.do_ 

1,425 

Ill and IV wheel base. 

.do- 

1,400 

IV and V wheel base. 

.do- 

2,330 

Total wheel base. 

.do_ 

7,650 

Gage. 

.do- 

1,435 

Length. 

.do- 

10,930 

Width. . 

.do_ 

3,050 

Height. 

.do_ 

4,000 

Water capacity of tank. 

liters.. 

5,-600 

Coal capacity of tender. 

Weight of locomotive: 

. .m. 3 .. 

4 

Empty. 

.tons.. 

37. 675 

In working order. 

Rail pressure on: 

.do_ 

51.195 

I wheel. 

.do_ 

10.130 

II wheel. 

.do_ 

10.200 

Ill wheel. 

.do_ 

10.280 

IV wheel. 

.do_ 

10.285 

V wheel. 

.do_ 

10. 300 

Type VI m.-t- For freight service on 


heavy grades. 



Diameter of high and low pressure 


cylinders. 

.mm.. 

400,620 

Stroke of both pistons. 

.do_ 

610 

Diameter of driving wheels.. 

.mm.. 

1,220 

Working pressure per square cm., 

kilos. 


16 

Greatest power of traction .... 

kilos.. 

11,520 

Length of boiler. 

.mm.. 

9,380 

Diameter of boiler. 

.do_ 

1,550 

Grate surf ace. 

. .m.2.. 

3.61 

Number of tubes. 


272 


Description. 


Dimension. 

Type VI m .—For freight service on 
heavy grades— Continued. 

Length of tubes over tube sheets, 

mm __ 

5,000 

52 

Diameter of tubes outside... 

...mm.. 

Heating surface: 


221.27 

Of tubes. 

...m.2.. 

In fire box. 

..do_ 

13.93 

Total. 

..do- 

235.20 

I and II wheel base. 


1,350 

II and III wheel base. 

..do_ 

1, 350 

Ill and IV wheel base. 

..do_ 

2,600 

IV and V wheel base. 

. .do_ 

1,350 

V and VI wheel base. 

..do- 

1,350 

Total wheel base. 

..do_ 

8,000 

Gage. 


1,435 

Length. 

..do_ 

12,882 

Width. 


3,100 

Height. 

Weight of locomotive: 


4,570 

Empty. 

..tons.. 

64. 500 

In working order. 

..do_ 

71. 460 

Rail pressure on: 



I wheel. 

12.100 

II wheel. 

..do_ 

12.100 

Ill wheel. 

..do_ 

12.070 

IV wheel. 


11. 920 

V wheel. 


11.660 

VI wheel. 


11.610 

TENDER. 



Water capacity. 

.. .m. 3 .. 

14. 500 

Coal capacity. 

..do_ 

8.200 

Diameter of wheels. 

..mm.. 

1,036 

Total base. 

..do_ 

3,160 

Weight of tender: 



Empty. 


15. 320 

In working order. 

..do_ 

36. 700 


GANZ WORKS. 

The Ganz Works, of Budapest, Hungary, have long been recog¬ 
nized as one of the first electrical plants in the world. For original¬ 
ity in design and for boldness in execution this plant has probably 
been unexcelled in the past in the electrical field. The names of such 
men as Blathy, Dery, and Zipernowsky are associated with much of 
the best work that has been brought out in electrical development in 
Europe, and all three of these engineers have been members of the 
staff of the Ganz Works. It was Ganz who brought out the first 
transformers with closed magnetic circuit, and also the first to con¬ 
nect these in parallel, representing a complete and thorough solution 
of working electric devices independent of each other. This solu¬ 
tion aided largely in making long line power transmission possible by 
using high-pressure current for transmitting electric power and low- 
pressure current for distributing this power through the medium of * 
economical stationary devices. The method of operating transform¬ 
ers connected in parallel was demonstrated at the Budapest National 
Exhibition in 1885. 

Every facility was afforded to inspect the shops, and seldom have 
I visited any manufacturing works in Europe where a greater cordial¬ 
ity was evinced or a more ready desire manifested to assist an in¬ 
spection than at this plant. The correct name of this concern is The 
Ganz Electric Company (Limited). The present organization dates 




















































































MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 


45 


from 1906. Formerly the electrical works constituted only a depart¬ 
ment of this firm. The statement that there were about 1,200 men 
at work, as well as subsequent statements in this report, must be un¬ 
derstood as referring to the electrical shops only or, in other words, 
to the Ganz Electric Company. Director Szuk stated that it would 
be necessary to increase the shop force to 1,500 men. He based this 
statement on the rapid accumulation of orders and declared that the 
force at the time was not equal to current demands. 

A NOTEWORTHY LABORATORY-MANY INSTALLATIONS. 

When one compares the works with other electrical plants in 
Europe, the Ganz plant creates the‘impression of being primarily a 
wonderful laboratory. This statement does not detract from the manu¬ 
facturing end of the establishment, for there is as fine work turned 
out from the Ganz shops as can be seen elsewhere. The executive 



Fig. 13.—Generators in the Manojlovac (Ganz) power plant, wound directly for 30,000 volts, 42 cycles; 
total output, 24,000 horsepower. 

control is excellent, many of the machine tools in service are of high 
grade, and there was notable workmanship displayed on all of the 
material inspected. 

As might be expected, these works are confining their attention 
largely to power plants and to electric traction work. A number of the 
noteworthy power installations in Europe are the work of this firm. 
The first great plant based on the transformer principle was under¬ 
taken by Ganz in connection with the power transmission of 8,000 
horsepower from Tivoli, Italy, to Rome. This service was rapidly 
followed by the installation of similar plants, power and light, in¬ 
cluding 20,000 horsepower at Vienna, and installations at Monte¬ 
video, Budapest, Venice, Tsarkoye-Selo, and elsewhere. One of the 
most recent installations is known as Manojlovac, in Dalmatia, involv¬ 
ing 30,000 volts, 3-phase, 4 generators of 6,000 horsepower each. This 
is a turbine-driven plant. The turbines are of the Francis type. 
The village nearest this plant is Pul jane. The name Manojlovac 
belongs to a flour mill close to the power installation. 

At the Manojlovac plant Ganz is transforming 30,000 volts to 50 
volts at one step. It is doubtful if any other firm has ever under- 





46 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 


taken such a feat. The 30,000 voltage is generated directly without 
the use of step-up transformers. The current from Manojlovac is 
used in Sebenico, Dalmatia, in connection with chemical processes 
for manufacturing calcium carbide. The current operates electric 
furnaces. In this installation 42 cycles, 6,000 horsepower, 3-phase 
generators are wound directly for 30,000 volts—this being the line 
voltage—without any step-up transformers. In Sebenico, which is 
20 miles away, the current is transformed down to 50 volts at one 
step, so that the 1,500 kva. transformers have a ratio of transforma¬ 
tion of 30,000 to 50 volts. Sebenico is a port on the Adriatic in 
Dalmatia. The Manojlovac power plant has been in operation for 
two and one-half years, and the Ganz Works report that it has given 
no trouble. 

LOCOMOTIVE CONSTRUCTION. 

Ganz is well known to the popular mind in connection with 
electric locomotives. There are Ganz electrical locomotives in actual 



Fig. 14.—Stator and coils of the 3-phase, 6,000 horsepower, 42 cycles, Monojlovac (Ganz) generator. 


service having a total rated output of 2,000 to 2,800 effective horse¬ 
power. These motors, according to Ganz, would give a maximum 
bar pull of about 42 tons. This capacity, it is pointed out, is only 
theoretical consideration, since no bar could stand the strain, and the 
adhesive weight at 42 tons is not sufficient for executing more than 
9 to 10 tons under favorable conditions. 

When 3-phase current was first considered the Ganz company 
interested itself in the subject with marked success and installed 
many 3-phase plants in Hungary and abroad. Perhaps the greatest 
achievement was the adapting of the 3-phase system for heavy trac¬ 
tion on main railway lines. The first railway on which 3-phase 
traction was employed is the one known as the Valtellina line, in the 
north of Italy. The electrical equipment for this road was built 
for the Italian Government in 1902, and consisted of 10 motor cars, 





MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 


47 


each supplied with four 250 horsepower motors and 9 locomotives. 
Five of these locomotives are of the power above mentioned. Three 
of these Valtellina locomotives were loaned for some time for the 
Simplon Tunnel service. 



Fig. 15.—The electric power installation in Manojlovac (Ganz), Dalmatia; water head, 330 feet, 24,000 

horsepower. 


The control for the Ganz locomotives is by means of the Cascade 
connection. This system, it is declared, permits of a most economical 
means for regulating the speed. Many of the railway lines in north- 








48 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 


ern Italy, it is understood, will pass to electric working under the 
3-phase system, and already the Savona-S. Giuseppe line is in process- 
of transformation. The 3-phase traction was originated, according 
to Mr. Ganz, by Mr. I^oloman de Kando, late a director of the Ganz 
Works and now of the Italian Westinghouse Company. 

A PROGRESSIVE CONCERN. 

Ganz was the first, it is asserted, to do away with belt and chain 
drives and to couple electric generators directly to steam engines. 
Ganz claims to have utilized direct connection since 1883. Likewise 
it is claimed that Ganz was the first to design alternating-current 
meters based on the induction principle. This was done, it is said, 
at a time when the principle was by no means known to the public; 
that is, as early as 1889. Ganz also claims the distinction of bringing 
out the first device for measuring accurately A. C. power, namely, 
the wattmeter, based on the electro-dynamometric principle. This 
was in 1885. Both of the foregoing devices are invent : ons of Mr. 
Otto Titus Blathy. It is stated that Ganz was the first to bring out 
the single-phase commutator motors, embracing those which are com¬ 
pensated. Many of these single-phase motors are said to be still in 
service. 

The material turned out by Ganz embraces all kinds of electrical 
machinery, but does not include telephone and telegraph apparatus. 
Among the equipment manufactured are large transformers, turbo¬ 
dynamos, electric traction outfits, controlling apparatus, and arc 
lamps. Ganz originated the system of placing arc-lamp carbons 
obliquely side by side, and has also brought out oil switches, lightning- 
arresting devices, of which quite a line has been developed, an oscillo¬ 
graph, based upon an original principle, and dynamometric ampere 
and wattmeters for research work. 

MACHINE-TOOL INSTALLATION. 

The lathes in service in the Ganz machine shops comprise many 
Flather (American) make. In addition, F. E. Heed Company, 
Worcester, Mass., Lodge & Shipley, Cincinnati, Ohio, Bradford Ma¬ 
chine Tool Company, Cincinnati, and Hendey Machine Company, 
Torrington, Conn., are represented by lathes, but the Flather ma¬ 
chines are undoubtedly the most numerous. Both Director Szuk and 
Engineer-in-Chief Toth spoke in the highest terms of the American 
machine tools in use. Only one American machine in the Ganz 
Works was criticised, and this particular tool, it was asserted, not 
only gave much trouble, but did not work accurately. Director Szuk 
expressed regret that Americans did not call in person at the works, 
for he believed it would be advantageous if a better acquaintanceship 
existed between representative manufacturers and the heads of the 
Ganz plant. The American machine-tool representation, he stated, 
is largely in the hands of German agents, and the Ganz Works would 
like to be in a position to treat directly with the heads of some Amer¬ 
ican representative plants and not feel that their ^communications will 
necessarily be turned over to importers. 

There is a strong pro-American feeling in Hungary, and the situa¬ 
tion is one which demands the direct and personal attention of manu¬ 
facturers of the United States. This will not interfere with agents 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRTA-HUNGARY. 


49 


provided the agents are conducting the business on correct.lines. It 
may help some of those agents who already recognize what a handicap 
it is to hail from countries against which national prejudice exists. 

AMERICAN MACHINE TOOLS IN USE. 

The Ganz firm states that the prices paid by it for American 
machine tools were as follows: 


Name of maker, and type and dimensions. 


Year of 
pur¬ 
chase. 


Price. 


Mark Flather & Co., Nashua, N. H.: 

1 lathe: length of bed, 2,300 mm.; height of spindle, 210 mm. 'through Lud. 

Loewe A. G., Berlin).. 

1 lathe; length of bed, 1,850 mm.; height of spindle, 180 mm. (through L. Korn- 

bliih, Vienna). 

Jones & Lamson Machine Co., Springfield, Vt.: 

1 turret lathe; length of bed, 2,000 mm.; maximum height for material, 50 mm.. 
1 turret lathe: length of bed, 2,000 mm.; maximum height for material, 50 mm.. 
F. E. Reed Co., Worcester, Mass.: 

1 lathe; length of bed, 1,950 mm.; height of center, 180 mm. (through L. Korn- 

bltih, Vienna). 

Prentice Brothers Co., Worcester, Mass.: 

1 lathe; length of bed, 1,900mm.; height of center, 165 mm. (through Schuchardt 

& Schutte)... 

Diamond Machine Co., Providence, R. I.: 

1 grinder; diameter of carborundum disk, 370 mm. (through the Washburn 

shops). 

Becker-Brainard Milling Machine Co., Hyde Park, Mass.: 

1 gear wheel grinder (through Ormai & Co., Budapest). 

Hendey Machine Co., Torrington, Conn.: 

1 planer; length of table, 1,300 mm.; for maximum, 800 mm. material (through 

L. Kornbliih, Vienna). 

Bullard Machine Tool Co., Bridgeport, Conn.: 

1 vertical turret lathe: length of bed, 900 mm. (through H. Dreyer). 

Pratt & Whitney Co., Hartford, Conn.: 

1 vertical miller (through Ormai &Co., Budapest). 

Pond Machine Tool Co., Plainfield, N. J.: 

1 boring mill; diameter of table, 3,000 mm.; for maximum, 1,500 mm. material.. 
Ferracute Machine Co., Bridgeton, N. J.: 

1 stamp machine No. 84. 

1 stamp machine No. 31 (Nos. 31 and 84 machines were made to order accord¬ 
ing to data supplied by Messrs. Ganz). 

Newton Machine Tool Co. (Inc.), Philadelphia, Pa.: 

1 horizontal borer; height, 1,600 mm.; for maximum 850 mm. material. 

Landis Tool Co., Waynesboro, Pa.: 

1 grinder No. 16 (through Schuchardt & Schutte). 

J. Morton Poole Co., Wilmington, Del.: ...... 

1 boring mill; bed, 2.000 mm.; for maximum 3,000 x 1,600 mm. material (through 

Schuchardt & Schutte)... 

Detrick & Harvev Machine Co., Baltimore, Md.: 

1 side planer; table, 4,400 x 2,000 x 1,500 mm. 

1 side planer; table, 4,000 x 1.050 x 850 mm. 

Niles Tool Works, Hamilton, Ohio: % a ^ _ T _ v. 

1 horizontal boring machine (without frame) No. 8 (through F. G. Kretschmer, 

Frankfort)... 

National-Acme Manufacturing Co., Cleveland, Ohio: 

Automatics No. 1£ (through Schuchardt & Schutte). 

Lodge & Shipley Machine Tool Co., Cincinnati, Ohio: 

1 lathe; bed, 3,600 mm.; height of spindle, 270 mm. (through Schuchardt & 

1 fathe^bed," 5,700 mm.*;* height of spindle, 340 inm. (through Schuchardt ’& 

1 lathe; ^ed," 2,450 "mm.; height of spindle, 240 mm. (through Schuchardt & 

Schutte).-.. 

Acme Machinery Co., Cleveland, Ohio: , . _ ..... . 

1 bolt cutter; 2 inches maximum (through Schuchardt & Schutte). 

Bickford Drill and Tool Co., Cincinnati, Ohio: _ 

1 radial drill; stroke of spindle, 400; for 70 mm. drills (through Schuchardt & 
Schutte).. 

Bradford Machine Tool Co., Cincinnati, Ohio: _ . . .. . 

Lathe; bed, 2,500 mm.; height of spindle, 205 mm. (through Schuchardt & 

Schutte).. - - -. 

Ingersoll Milling Machine Co., Rockford, Ill.: 

Miller.. : ... 

GlSl Turret lathe; bed.^OO^mT height of spindle, 380 mm. (through Schuchardt 
& Schutte). 


1897 

1891 

1898 
1900 

1894 
1907 

1892 

1895 

1893 
1907 
1895 
1900 
1900 

1894 
1897 
1904 

1907 

1897 

1897 

1908 

1906 

1907 
1907 
1907 
1899 

1907 

1907 

1897 

1897 


8514 

483 

1,019 

1,264 

397 

597 

102 

1,108 

589 

2,692 

585 

4,924 

1,165 

743 

3,631 

1,720 

5,583 

4,268 
1,927 

4,388 

1,386 

1,638 

2,644 

1,077 

949 

2,178 

888 

4,046 

2,400 


H. Doc. 913, 61-2-1 












































50 


MACniNE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 


Ingersoll tools were at work milling keyholes in some heavy turbo¬ 
dynamo shafting. There are two of these Ingersoll machines in the 
Ganz Works. The Bradford machine has been in service in the 
shops 10 years, and Director Szuk said that it had given every sat¬ 
isfaction. One of the Flather lathes works with a turret attachment. 
The turret was built and fitted to the lathe by Ganz. 

The Becker millers were referred to by Director Szuk as excellent 
machines. There are two 36-inch Becker machines in service. There 
is a Bullard turret lathe in service which has been in use by Ganz for 
12 years. The two Lodge & Shipley lathes were working with 
European tool holders. It is understood that this type of tool post 
was supplied by the Cincinnati firm. The Poole double-boring mill 
has been in service about two years. It has a diameter of table about 
2 meters (6.56 feet) and a height to crossbar from table of 2.22 
meters (7.3 feet). The distance between uprights is 2.20 meters 
(7.2 feet). The Niles horizontal boring machine is quite new. 

All the stamp machines in use at the Ganz Works have been sup¬ 
plied either by Ferracute, of Bridgeton, N. J., or by the Vulkan 
Works, of Budapest. The Ferracute machines were made to order, 
according to the data supplied by Ganz. 

FOREIGN TOOLS IN USE-WAGES PAID. 

Among the foreign tools in use are a double-vertical miller from 
the Deutsch-Niles Werke, a saw cutter from Seidler Vilmos, Buda¬ 
pest, three grinders and several lathes from Reinecker, one turret 
lathe from Pittler, and also turret lathes from Ludwig Loewe. Still 
other foreign makes present included a turret lathe from Vulkan, 
which might be termed a reproduction of a Jones & Lamson ma¬ 
chine, coil-winding machines from the Oerlikon Works, Schiess 
lathes, Vulkan lathes and boring mills, planers from Joh. Muller and 
from Ludwig Loewe, a turning and grinding machine from Friedr. 
Schmaltz, sensitive drills from Smith & Coventry, and vertical drills 
from Ludwig Loewe. Hasse has supplied turret lathes, and Spon- 
holz & Wrede sensitive drills. The Schmaltz grinder is criticised as 
being too light. 

A day’s work at the Ganz plant comprises 10 hours. The better 
grade of workmen receive about 1 crown (20.3 cents) per hour. Ap¬ 
prentices receive 50 hellers (10.2 cents) per day. These apprentices 
serve 3 years. During this period the apprentices attend school 
from 4 to 5 hours a day. 

The buildings of the Ganz Works are of steel construction through¬ 
out. In the main machinery building there are two 25-ton cranes. 
All shop wages paid by Ganz are on the basis of a fixed valuation for 
each assigned piece of work. 

lAng works. 

The most important engine-building plant in Hungary is that of 
L. Lang, located in Budapest. The correct title and address of this 
firm is Lang L. Gepgyara, Budapest, Hungary. It will be noticed 
that the initial of the Christian name of Lang follows the surname. 
This is in accordance with the Hungarian language. The card of a 
Hungarian firm and the visiting card of a Hungarian gentleman 
show, when written in Hungarian, the Christian name following the 
Surname. Every facility was afforded for inspecting the shops. 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 


51 


The Lang Works were employing about 650 men and were very 
busy, full time and overtime work being in progress. The principal 
construction work in hand was in connection with the building of 
both steam and turbine engines. Lang controls the Zoelly steam 
turbine rights for Austria-Hungary. These rights also include the 
privilege of building for the Austro-Hungarian navy. There were 
several Zoelly turbines building for marine purposes, and my atten¬ 
tion was attracted to a turbine-electro lighting system for an Austro- 
Hungarian naval vessel comprising 450 horsepower, voltage 105, 
direct current. The motor for this marine installation was fur¬ 
nished by A. E. G. Kolben, Prague, Bohemia. The turbine is of the 
Zoelly type. Preparations were being made at the Lang shops for 
an extensive test of the Zoelly turbine system by an Austro-Hunga¬ 
rian navy commission, with a view to a possible greater use of this 
type of turbine in the Austro-Hungarian service. Up to 1909 
Lang has built for the Austro-Hungarian navy three turbines of 
300 kw. and two of 150 kw. These five turbines are being utilized 
for lighting purposes and for ammunition hoists. For the wheels of 
Zoelly turbines Lang employs Ivrupp steel. The blades are made of 
nickel steel of German origin. 

INCREASING SIZE OF TURBINES-FOUNDRY WORK. 

One 3,000-horsepower Zoelly turbine in course of construction was 
the largest engine of the Zoelly type which Lang had undertaken. 
Orders, however, have been received for Zoelly turbines rating as 
high as 4,000 horsepower. [A full description of this type of turbine 
will be found on page 167 of the monograph issued by the Bureau of 
Manufactures entitled “ Machine Tool Trade in Germany, France, 
Switzerland, Italy, and United Kingdom.”] 

Lang is working about 80 men in the foundry department, some 
beautiful castings being in evidence. Attention was particularly 
drawn to a single casting of about 25 tons weight for a double-acting 
gas engine. Lang uses compressed air in connection with molding 
work, Naxos-Union grinders (German) being in service in the 
molding department for grinding down castings. The foundry men 
are paid by piecework at a stipulated rate per ton. As a rule the 
average rate of wages earned in the foundry department is 35 crowns 
($7.10) per week. Many of the steam and air hammers in service 
have been made at the Lang shops. These hammers were built both 
on the Sellers (American) and Arns (German) systems. The ma¬ 
jority of the blacksmith tools were obtained from Hungarian sources. 
The plate shears in the blacksmith shop were supplied by Wagner & 
Co. (German). 

FINISH ON ENGINES-ACTIVE DEMAND. 

Lang is paying marked attention to the finish on steam engines. 
One generally expects to find in European engine plants highly fin¬ 
ished products, and in this respect the Lang engines are fully up to 
the best Continental practice. One Lang engine of 250 horsepower 
in service in the shops, directly connected to a Ganz generator, was 
running at 125 revolutions per minute and using superheated steam 
at 11 atmospheres pressure. Lang uses Russian iron for lagging. 
This so-called “ Russian iron,” which is used extensively on the 


52 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 


Continent for lagging purposes, is supplied in large part by Bohe¬ 
mian firms. The Lang laggings come from Schuster, of Prague. 

Director Braun stated that he fully agreed with the views ex¬ 
pressed by General Director Boner, of the Tosi Works, that the steam 
consumption for a 2,000-kw. turbine installation is more economical 
than a reciprocating engine for the same power. This statement did 
not hold good below 2,000 kw. Mr. Boner’s remarks referred to the 
Parsons turbine which the Tosi Works are building in Italy. [See 
p. 190, Machine Tool Trade in Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy, 
the United Kingdom, 1909.] Director Braun explained that engine 
building in Hungary is very active just now, owing to numerous 
orders coming in from newly established cement factories. The 
cement business in Hungary is especially good, and many new mills 
are going up. Lang is turning out some very large hemp-rope turn¬ 
ing fly wheels for some of these new cement mills, and one wheel of 
7 meters’ (22.96 feet) diameter was designed to carry on its circum¬ 
ference no less than 27 ropes. This fly wheel is being built in four 
sections. 

The Lang Works were founded about 40 years ago by the present 
owner, Mr. Ladislaus Lang. To-day Lang’s Works are looked upon 
as the representative engine-building plant of Hungary. The pres¬ 
ent active head is a son of the founder. 

SOME AMERICAN MACHINE TOOLS IN USE. 

The principal line of work at Lang’s is the building of steam 
engines, steam turbines, condensers, condenser plants, steam econ¬ 
omizers for boilers, transmission equipments, gas engines of the 
Nurnberg type, and steam pumps for waterworks purposes. Practi¬ 
cally all the lathes at Lang’s are from Joh. Muller, of Vienna. These 
lathes are very old. Only three American lathes were in use; two 
were of the Hendey type and the third was a Young. The contrast 
was very striking. Seldom are shops found where such high-class 
work is undertaken with so few American tools. Shops like Carels, 
of Gand, ascribe much of their success in engine building to the 
very modern character of machine tools employed, and it ap¬ 
peared that Lang’s plant would readily use more American ma¬ 
chines were the facts regarding the more advanced types brought 
prominently forward. Director Braun stated that he had never 
known, during his connections with the Lang plant, any representa¬ 
tive American manufacturing official to call. 

The Chicago Machine Tool Company has a small milling machine 
in service at Lang’s, and there are a couple of Becker-Brainard 
vertical millers there, one being a No. 4 C machine. The Cincinnati 
Milling Machine Company is represented by a No. 2 machine. There 
was an undoubted Bickford radial drill, but no name was showing. 
Gisholt is represented by a turret lathe. Prentice Brothers Company 
have three tools in service, and there is one drill from Hamilton, Ohio. 
Still other American features include two American Gas Furnace 
Company furnaces, one giant groove shaping machine, one Cincinnati 
Milling Machine Company grinder, and one Gisholt grinder. Includ¬ 
ing the two Hendey and one Young lathes, the total American tools 
at Lang s number 15. There are also a couple of Whrthington pumps 
present. Counting tools, furnaces, and pumps, the total American 
pieces of equipment in these shops number 19. 





MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 


53 


The machine-tool installation comjirises the following: Lathes, GO; 
turret lathes, 7; surface lathes, 10; centering lathe, 1; vertical shap¬ 
ing machines, 4; planers, 7; female-screw shaping machines, 2; 
groove shaper, 1; horizontal shapers, 3; bevel wheel planer, 1; 
carussel lathes, 3; long drill machine, 1; milling machines, 13; hori¬ 
zontal turning machines, 8; boring machines, 12; cylinder boring 
machines, 5; screw-cutting machines, 4; transportable drills, 4; fries- 
ing tool, 1; grinding machines, 5; gas furnaces, 2; steam hammer, 
1; air hammer, 1; punching and shearing machine, 1; cold saw 
machines, 3. 

NEW TOOL PURCHASES. 

Lang is buying new tools from time to time, but many of his ac¬ 
quisitions are German. Among the foreign makers, Collet & Engel¬ 
hard have provided transportable radial drills, and Vulkan is rep¬ 
resented by turning and boring machines and a great quantity of 
lathes. Deutsche-Xiles Werke have provided some vertical turret 
lathes, and Reinecker is represented by vertical millers. The Werk- 
zeugmaschinenfabrik vorm., J. Zimmermann, of Chemnitz, has pro¬ 
vided a combined planer, milling, and boring machine having a 
length of table 7 meters (22.96 feet) and a height of 3 meters (9.84 
feet). This machine is equipped with three motors, and was recently 
purchased for turbine casing work. From Brener, Schumacher & 
Co. there has been obtained a heavy horizontal boring machine. 

Despite the number of milling machines installed there is not as 
much recourse to milling as one would expect, and considerable work 
is done on lathes which might otherwise be handled on millers. 
Practice ditfers in this respect in different countries among the best 
shops, and where American shops might be inclined to use milling 
machines the practice is not always the same in Europe. 

PRICES OF MACHINE TOOLS. 

The price paid by Messrs. Lang, as reported by them, for machine 
tools were as follows: 


Name of maker, and type and dimensions. 

Year of 
pur¬ 
chase. 

Price 

paid. 

Schuchardt & Schiitte, Vienna: 

1 Gisholt universal grinding machine, with usual accessories. 

1901 

$366 

1 Norton No. 3 spindle lathe, height of center 230 mm., length of bed 2,440 mm., 
iprliiding accessories._. 

1901 

639 

Waffen und Maschinenfabriks A. G., Budapest: 

1 complete B. F. C. 646 right and left hand cylinder boring and milling machine. 
Vulkan Maschinenfabrik A. G., Budapest: 

1 complete vertical rmllinp r machine, model F. V. 0 e. 

1901 

1902 

2,777 

1,472 

Schuchardt 4c Schiitte, Vienna: 

1 center-bore universal grinding machine, including 4 emery wheels and acces- 
so ries . 

1902 

43 

1 twist drill grinder machine No. 1, for drills of 6 to 50 mm., with Norton emery 
wheel and overhead gear without supports. 

1902 

62 

Vulkan Maschinenfabrik A". G., Budapest: 

1 BC 2 cylinder-boring machine for 1,100 mm. diameter cylinder, 760 mm. height 

of center . 

1 revolving spa,nnine r table _.... 

1903 

1903 

1,076 

284 

Ernst Dania, Vienna: 

1 armature lathe with universal elastic chuck. 

1903 

380 

Deutsche-Niles Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik: 

1 turning and boring machine, “Tee,” of 750 mm. diameter maximum, with 
overhead gear, 1 set of cranks and service key, 1 set of drill pivots, and 1 
rnAvtihiu rfrill l'nrhVfltor without Ponnterweie r ht. 

1904 

605 

1 horizontal drilling, boring, and milling machine. “ Oc,” of 130 mm. diameter 
spindle, normal, no counterweights, axle spindle feed 1,250 mm., vertical 
sledge feed 1,500 mm., horizontal feed 2,500 mm .. 

1904 

2,618 


























54 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 


Name of maker, and type and dimensions. 


Schuchardt & Schiitte, Vienna: 

1 surface grinding machine No. 10, Gardner, disk diameter 450 mm., with all 

accessories, 1 additional reserve steel disk 450 mm., and rocking table. 

1 tool grinder, “Cincinnati”. 

1 universal milling attachment No. 1« for Norton No. 3.. — 

1 universal milling machine, “ Cincinnati ” No. 2, with automatic longitudinal 

and cross action. 

Fontaine & Co. G. m. b. H., Bockenheim, Germany: 

1 automatic saw-sharpening machine, Model No. 13, without pedestal, with fixed 
and loose disk and gear, including emery wheel, attachment for saws under 

100 diameter, also attachment for tapesaws up to 40 mm. width. 

Briider Scherb, Vienna: 

1 eccentric press, A. P. 3, with wheel transmission. 

J. E. Reinecker, Chemnitz, Germany: 

1 miller, parallel No. 1, table area inclusive of galley 920 mm. x 200 mm., with 

round table. . 

Kirchner & Co., A. G., Leipzig, Germany: 

1 saw, pendulum for saw blades up to 500 mm. diameter, with iron frame and 

truss, with saw blade of 500 mm. 

1 drill, rapid 23 mm. Hamilton (American) type, with table 16 inches square .... 
1 lathe, with grinding spindle, height of center 130 mm., length between centers 

750mm... 

Deutsche-Niles Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik: 

1 lathe, carussel G. a. a. 1,000 mm., with 1,000 mm. diameter of planing disks, 

height 750 mm.. 

Naxos-Union, Frankfort: 

1 grinding and polishing machine, model VII/D, including Naxos-Union pol¬ 
ishing belt, 2 pieces 2,500 x 60 x 3 mm. coated with emery No. 60. 

1 emery grinding machine, Model T. D. 500 mm. with steel shaft of 40 mm. 

diameter, steel disks of 500 mm. diameter, each. 

Ernst Dania, Vienna: 

1 lathe, beveling with rack and milled wheels, Model H. B., 260 mm. height of 

center, 2,500 mm. length, exclusive of molding with pierced head spindle. 

1 lathe, planing P. B. 5 a, with 1,750 mm. planing disk diameter, 2,500 mm. 

cross bed. 

1 lathe, Special S. T. 450, built to design; height of center measured from base 
1,250 mm., and from table 450 mm., length 1,670 mm.; total length 3,500 mm... 
Kopings Mekaniska Verkstads Aktiebolaget: 

1 lathe, complete 2,000 mm. x 3,000 mm. M 2,250. 

1 horizontal boring machine H. B. fr. 

Kohn Adolf, Budapest: 

1 planing lathe, diameter of planing wheel 1,500 mm.; with 1 gear and 4 universal 

grip traps. 

Maschinenbau vorm. Ducommun, Mulhausen: 

1 milling machine G, with overhead gear... 

Schuchardt & Schiitte, Vienna: 

1 Fowler automatic miller No. 3, for worms and screws, with normal tools. 

1 circular saw machine No. 5, with normal accessories, pedestal, 6 emery wheels. 
1 Hisey grinding machine A No. 3 for 110 volt, direct current, magnetic spindle. 

1 Hisey grinding machine, Model No. A 2, for 110 volt direct current. 

Rauscher & Anders, Vienna: 

1 hand drilling machine, electric drive, Model S, II, No. 12391, 110 volts direct 

current. 

Selig, Sonnenthal & Co., London: 

1 Dudgeon’s magnetic support. 

1 transportable grinder with No. 6 spindle, and emery wheel 8xl| inches, and 

2 steel brushes. 

Collett & Engelhard, Offenbach a/M.: 

1 transportable horizontal drill and milling machine, Model D. 2.2 e, and a boring 

and milling machine built to design, 25765. 

Ernst Dania, Vienna: 

2 lathes, beveling H. B. 260 mm. x 2,500 mm., each kronen 2073.65. 

Schuchardt & Schiitte, Vienna: 

1 Hisey grinder No. 3, for direct current, 110 volts. 

Leipsiger Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik, Wuhren near Leipzig: 

1 Pittler revolving lathe, Model E R A., No. 5, low 246, with overhead gear, and 

complete accessories including special tools. 

Vulkan Maschinenfabrik, Budapest: 

1 ribbon saw, Mark B S 750. 

1 lunette stand on bed with support 2,500 mm. long. 

1 cast-iron boring shaft 4,000 mm. diameter and 5,000 mm. length, including a 

boring head fitted to shaft and a pile support with counterweight. 

1 lathe, Mark D.150,1,000 mm. length. 

1 cylinder boring machine, MarkB. C. G., for boring cylinders of 2,000 mm. diam¬ 
eter and 4,000 mm. length; also for flange work. 

1 heavy support lathe, Mark D., 600 x 6,500 mm. length, complete. 

1 electric attachment. 

110-horsepower motor, 220 volts. 

Waffen und Maschinenfabriks A. G., Budapest: 

1 half universal radial drill machine, Mark B. R. 3. 

Henrich Dreyer, Berlin: 

1 American “Giant” wedge machine No. 3. 

1 “ Burr” vertical spindle milling machine, No. 5. 


Year of 
pur¬ 
chase. 

Price 

paid. 

1904 

1904 

1904 

$315 

333 

175 

1905 

840 

1905 

59 

1905 

216 

1905 

608 

1905 

1905 

76 

73 

1905 

162 

1906 

1,466 

1906 

87 

1906 

152 

1906 

365 

1906 

865 

1906 

1,074 

1906 

1906 

536 

931 

1906 

609 

1906 

165 

1906 

1906 

1906 

1906 

2,085 

263 

98 

75 

1906 

52 

1906 

1906 

42 

1906 

82 

1906 


1956 

2,240 

1907 

842 

1907 

95 

1907 

1,112 

1907 

1907 

183 

406 

1907 

1907 

1,130 

203 

1907 

1907 

1907 

1907 

1,181 

3,512 

142 

274 

1907 

1,288 

1907 

1907 

489 

666 




















































machine-tool tbade in austeia-hungaby. 


55 


Name of maker, and type and dimensions. 


Joh. Muller, Vienna: 

1 horizontal planing lathe, with gear wheel 1,750 mm. diameter. 

Ducommun, Mulhausen: 

1 horizontal support lathe with straight bed, Model C, 200 x 2,000 mm., with 
attachments. 

1 horizontal support lathe with straight bed,' Model C, 200 x’i,'500 mm.',' with 

attachments. 

Collett & Engelhard, Offenbach a/M.: 

I transportable universal radial drilling machine, Model G. F. 11 e, with direct 
current motor of 3 horsepower, 220 volts, 1,450 revolutions and with reversible 

gear. 

Becker-Brainard Milling Machine Co., Hyde Park, Mass.: 

1 vertical miller No. 4 C, with gear attachment and support. 

Naxos-Union, Frankfort: 

1 grinder, Model B N M 400, with 3-horsepower motor, and gear, including 2 
“ Rapid Korund ” emery wheels 400 mm. diameter, 500 mm. width, and 40 mm. 

drill... 

Chemnitzer Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik, Chemnitz: 

1 planer, 7,000 mm. length of plane, 3,500 mm. width, and 3,000 mm. height, in¬ 
cluding direct current auxiliary circuit motor by Bergmann, 50 horsepower, 
500 turns, 220 volts.. 

1 vertical turning and drilling machine, B. W. J., for work up to 2,000 mm. 
diameter, 1,100 mm. height, 1,700 mm. diameter of disk and 800 mm. depth of 
drilling; with independent switch for the left support, two speeds, including 

packing, freight, and duty, to Budapest. 

Blau & Co., through Robt. Kern, Budapest: 

1 traveling universal radial drill machine, Model G. H. 7 c, with electric motor 
power from a motor of 2 horsepower, 110 volts, type K. 05L 1,450 revolutions, 
with reversible A. F. U. 


Yearof 

pur¬ 

chase. 

Price 

paid. 

1908 

SI, 056 

1908 

487 

1908 

528 

1908 

1,401 

1908 

924 

1908 

278 

1908 

14,372 

1909 

3,010 

1909 

680 


workmen’s capacity and wages. 

The average rate of wages paid at the Lang Works for good ma¬ 
chinists is 62 hellers (12.6 cents) per hour. Foremen receive 1 
crown (20.3 cents) per hour. Apprentices receive 12 hellers (2.4 
cents) per hour. With reference to welfare work or the caring for 
the workmen, the practice at the Lang Works is to pay a certain 
amount in cash to workmen who are ill. Accident insurance also 
forms a feature. Lang is building lodgings for workmen. A day’s 
work comprises 10 hours. The shops open at 7 a. m. and close at 
6 p. m. Having in mind the practice customary in many American 
shops of keeping a record of the production per man per year, it was 
suggested to Messrs. Lang that it would be of interest to know the 
rate of capacity per man in their shops, and they stated that their 
per-man capacity, figured on a year’s basis, is 5,468 crowns ($1,110). 
During 1909 the force employed comprised 392 workmen, 129 day 
laborers, 96 apprentices, and 12 foremen. The foundry utilized 44 
day laborers and 63 foundry men. 

BUDAPEST ELECTRIC PLANT. 

Following the visit to the Lang Works, the power station of the 
general electric plant of the city of Budapest was visited. The cur¬ 
rent generated is of the alternating type, and three beautifully fin¬ 
ished Lang engines are in service in this station. These engines are 
of the triple-expansion, vertical type, directly connected to generators. 
The cylinder diameters are, respectively, for high, intermediate, and 
low pressure, 600, 925, 1,400 mm. by 800 mm. stroke. The engines 
are operated at 112 revolutions per minute. The practice now is to 
build the Zoelly complete in one casing. The exciter for each of 
these Zoellys was running on the same shaft with the motor. 
























56 MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 

There are a number of important additions going up at the Buda¬ 
pest central station, and in one of these additions six new boilers have 
been installed, of the Babcock & Wilcox type. These boilers were 
built by the Danubius Works of Budapest. Lang is building a 3,000- 
horsepower Zoelly turbine for this new installation. The turbine 
will be connected to a Siemens-Schuckert motor. The pumps are 
from Weise & Monski, of Halle, and are of the direct-acting type, 
steam driven. There is a Parsons turbine in this central station 
which has been furnished by the Austrian firm, Erste Brunner Mas- 
chinenfabrik, of Brunn. This firm has the Parsons rights for Austria- 
Hungary. In addition to the foregoing there are several marine-type 
steam engines in service, furnished by Schichau. The central plant is 
a private works, and supplies lighting and power to plants and other 
customers. The capital employed is all Hungarian. 

RESICZA WORKS. 

In the mountains of southeastern Hungary, in the V indicated by 
the Servian and Roumanian frontier lines, is Resicza. It is a small 
place, so far as cities go, but it represents in its population one of 
the most interesting iron and steel works in Europe. What Ivrupp 
is to Germany and Le Creusot to France, so Resicza is to Hungary. 
A grade of steel is being turned out in these Hungarian works the 
equal, it is claimed, of the best in the world. 

From Yojtek, where a change of cars is made, one travels toward 
Resicza through a magnificent stretch of farming country. Portions 
of this section can only be compared with some of the finest land in 
Nebraska. As far as the eye could reach there was a magnificent 
vista of waving wheat and corn fields. 

Approaching Resicza a valley was observed, rockbound in its 
mountain fastness, but alive with furnaces and chimneys of a great 
modern steel plant. In Budapest I had met General Director Bela 
Yeith, through whose courtesy every facility was accorded me to 
make an inspection at Resicza. On arrival at Resiczabanya, which 
is the works station of Resicza, I was received by General Manager 
Georg Marton and Engineers Moritz Weiss and Alexander Lam. 
I later met the engineer in chief of the machinery department, Mr. 
Mikles Balint, and in company with him and Engineers Weiss and 
Lam the machine-tool installation was inspected. The force actually 
employed at Resicza numbers about 6,000 men. The total force em¬ 
ployed in all the shops and works of the company, having in mind 
only Hungarian territory, is 18,000. 

THE COMPANY AND ITS HOLDINGS. 

The correct name of the concern controlling the Resicza Works is 
The Privileged Austro-Hungarian State Railway Company. The 
address of the firm is Budapest, Hungary. At present the organi¬ 
zation is that of a limited company and is the outcome of a gradual 
acquisition of stock originally controlled largely by French capital. 
In 1855 the Austrian Government sold the property, which had been 
a state holding, to a private company, which at that time controlled 
a line of railway running across Hungary from north to south. 
The land purchased from the Austrian Government approximated 
330,000 acres. More than two-thirds of this area is covered by 
forest. Within this great holding are numerous mines furnishing 



MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTBIA-HUNGARY. 57 

all the essentials for the making of iron and steel, save the nickel 
and chrome used for mixture in producing special metal. Close to 
the iron mines are great lime deposits, while the clay at Resicza 
is probably unexcelled for the manufacture of fire bricks. The 
greatest care is exercised for the conservation of the forest land, 
and where portions of land are cleared provision is made for new 
growths. The trees are generally cut down when between 40 and 80 
years old. At the present time there are flourishing forests of fir, 
pine, and beech planted at periods of 80 to 120 years ago. As to the 
iron mines, the supply of ore, it is declared, is seemingly inexhaustible. 

FURNACES, MACHINERY, AND OUTPUT. 

Resicza is essentially a steel-making plant, although the manu¬ 
facturing end of the business is an important one. At the present 


Fig. 16.—Gas-producer plant at Resicza. 

time the annual production of steel is about 100,000 tons, the largest 
part of which is produced by the Martin-Siemens open-hearth proc¬ 
ess. The Bessemer plant produces 20,000 to 25,000 tons of Bessemer 
steel annually by means of three converters, each of 10 tons capacity. 
Fluid pig iron is cast in these converters direct from the smelting 
works, and the steel produced is largely used for rails. 

The annual output capacity of raw iron at Resicza is about 65,000 
tons, but this production, it is stated, will shortly be increased to 
110,000 tons. The iron ore at Resicza is worked up at present in 
three blast furnaces, one having a capacity of 120 tons per day and 
two having a capacity of 70 tons each per day. A new blast furnace, 
now in process of building, is designed for a capacity of 250 to 300 
tons per day. This new furnace is the design of Julien Kennedy, 
of Pittsburg, Pa. Arrangements for the building of this Kennedy 







58 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 


furnace were effected, I am told, through Kennedy’s European repre¬ 
sentative located in Brussels. There are five open-hearth furnaces 
in the steel works. 

It is the practice at Resicza to fill 35 small ingot molds at one 
pour, the entire 35 molds being carried in a frame, the design of Mr. 
Georg Marton. One of the furnaces handles 36 molds. 

Resicza has been utilizing blast-furnace gas for the past 35 years, 
and to-day a large proportion of the power employed is furnished 
by gas engines. Both blast furnace and producer gas are used. The 
gas-producer system employed is of the Kerpely design. In all there 
are 14 gas producers in service for the steel-making plant. In one 
central station there are four gas engines, each of 1,650 nominal 
horsepower, running at 97 revolutions per minute. The engines 
were built by Lang, of Budapest, after the Ehrhardt system. The 
generators are by the Union A. E. G., Vienna. These electrical gen¬ 
erators are generating alternating 3-phase current of 20.8 periods, 
5,500 volts, 1,100 kilowatts. All four engines are running in parallel, 
and parallel with a second hydro-electro central station of 6,000 
kva. capcity. These gas engines are running more smoothly than 
any gas engines I have seen in service on the Continent. It was 
stated to me that they are giving little trouble and are very eco¬ 
nomical. 

WASHING THE GAS. 

Resicza employs the Veith system for washing gas, supplemented 
by an additional washing through the medium of the Theisen system. 
From the Theisen washers the gas goes direct to the gas engines with¬ 
out recourse to gas reservoir. In case the blast-furnace gas gives 
out at any time the gas engines can be run on producer gas, but ordi¬ 
narily the producer gas is utilized only for the furnaces. The pro¬ 
ducer gas, when used for power-generating purposes, must naturally 
first be washed. 

There are eight Bellville boilers in service and, in addition, there 
are ten boilers in use similar in type to the Babcock & Wilcox. The 
latter boilers were made in Resicza. Blast-furnace gas is used for 
firing in connection with these boilers. With the exception of three 
Worthington pumps, all the pumps in service have been built at 
Resicza. The air compressors, furnishing the air for the blast fur¬ 
naces, are supplied with motors from Siemens & Halske. There are 
four of these motors attached to as many compressors, of 280 horse¬ 
power each. There are also two horizontal compound steam-driven 
blowing engines of 650 horsepower each. A turbo-compressor, with a 
capacity of 1,000 cubic meters (35,316 cubic feet) per minute, and 
directly driven with a 2,000-horsepower electrical motor, will furnish 
the necessary air to the new blast furnace. 

ROLLING AND OTHER MILL PLANTS. 

In the Resicza rolling-mill plant the heavy mills, such as blooming 
mill, the structural-iron mill, and the heavy-plate mill, are driven 
by two sets of electric motors, each capable of yielding a maximum 
of 10,000 horsepower. There is also a steam engine of 4,000 horse¬ 
power which is held in reserve. The electrical engines permit of 
reversing from maximum to maximum in eight seconds. The maxi- 


Fig. 17.—Gas-motor plant at Resicza. 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 


59 


































































60 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 


mum number of revolutions is 150 per minute. These engines are 
used in connection with the manufacture of rails, plates, and blooms. 
The diameter of the largest roll in the blooming mill is 1 meter 
(3.28 feet), and the ratio of gears is one to two. The mills are all 
reversible from both sides of couplings. The motors yield 2,000 
horsepower effective, and give 10,000 horsepower through the help 
of a fly wheel, after the Ilgner system. The speed of the fly wheel 
is 90 meters (295 feet) per second. This is the circumferential 
speed. The speed of the motor generator, which gives energy for 
the reserving motors, is 410 revolutions per minute. 

In addition to the central power station, operated by gas engines, 
Resicza is availing of 4,000 horsepower electric power from a hydro¬ 
electric station, distant not more than 3 miles from the center of 
the works. The waterfall at this station is 217 meters (712 feet) 
in length. Three turbines are installed, each yielding 2,500 horse¬ 
power, working in connection with Pelton wheels, and equipped with 
automatic regulators. The generators yield 5,500 volts 3-phase 
current of 20.8 periods per second, running at 312.5 revolutions per 
minute. The generators were built by the Siemens-Schuckert Works 
in Berlin. 

In addition to the foregoing rolling mill, mention should be made 
of the sheet-plate mill which is being operated with Ganz motors of 
500 horsepower, 500 volts 3-phase current. These motors are coupled 
direct to roller shafts and afford a speed of 50 revolutions per minute. 

There is also at Resicza a 3-liigh rail mill, equipped with three sets 
of rolls, steam driven. This mill is German built, but, I was assured, 
it is in reality English in design. The reversing mills above referred 
to were also built by Germans; that is to say, the mechanical part of 
the mill is German in all respects except the electrical equipment. 
There is at present at Resicza an old rolling mill which is referred 
to as the Merchant Mill, the equipment of which is to be entirely 
torn out and replaced with new mills, operated by steam and electric 
drive. There is required for the new equipment 4,000 horsepower. 
I understand that Resicza is desirous of receiving this mill work 
from American sources. With this object in view, inquiries were 
recently made of one American firm. 

THE RAILWAY-TIRE MILL-MISCELLANEOUS MACHINES. 

The tire mill at Resicza produces tires from 500 to 2,500 mm. inte¬ 
rior diameter, and is turning out probably as fine work as can be 
found anywhere in Europe. In the United States, Bethlehem, Mid¬ 
vale, Chrome, and Latrobe may be said to be doing work similar to 
Resicza, but in Hungary, Resicza is the only source for steel tires. 
There is no denying that the tire work at Resicza is most skillfully 
handled. The equipment for the tire shop is practically all Eng¬ 
lish. On entering the tire mill I heard what appeared to be an un¬ 
mistakable sound of many wonderfully toned bells. The sound, I 
later found, came from workmen knocldng off heat scales from nu¬ 
merous locomtive tires, but the ring from the hammers gave evidence 
of the splendid quality of the steel. Resicza supplies practically all 
tires used in high-speed equipment on the Hungarian railways. 

In the car wheel molding department German molding machines 
are used. The loading cranes for loading rails have been supplied 
by Simmering, of Vienna. I observed two heavy cold saws in the 



.MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 61 

rail department which have been furnished by Heinrich Ehrhardt, 
of Dusseldorf. Wagner & Co., of Dortmund, have supplied a heavy 
punching machine for splice bars, one double punch of 400 tons pres¬ 
sure, and five rail milling machines. Sack, of Rath, has supplied 
one very heavy double punch of 500 tons pressure. The frame for 
this punch was made at Resicza. Schultz & L. Goebel, of Vienna, 
have supplied a punch machine, and I was informed that the last- 
mentioned Austrian tool is liked better than the Wagner or Sack 
punches. 

BRICKWORKS. 

Resicza is making all its own fire brick and has a very complete 
plant for this industry. There is a Robbins type of belt conveyor in 
service in the brickworks. The gas used for drying the bricks comes 
from two producers of the type of the Morgan Construction Com¬ 
pany. These producers were built by Resicza. Women are em¬ 
ployed to a large extent at the brickworks. I observed that blast¬ 
furnace slag is being worked up into brick. The slag is granulated 
by water and is mixed with lime and pressed into brick. These slag 
bricks are air dried for a period of about six months and later are 
used for building purposes. They are cheaper than burnt brick, but 
naturally are not as good, since the mechanical strength is inferior. 
I observed one Worthington pump at the brickworks, but aside from 
this pump the equipment is largely German. Most of the brick¬ 
works’ equipment came from Osnabruck. Beyond the brickworks, 
and nearer to the water-power plant, are a number of dwellings 
which have been erected by Resicza for the use of the workmen. 
These houses are mostly provided with three rooms and kitchen, 
and are rented, I understand, for about 12 crowns ($2.44) per month. 

ANINA COAL, CHARCOAL, IRON FOUNDRY, ETC. 

Not far from Resicza is the town of Anina, where the Resicza com¬ 
pany has important mines and an iron foundry for general castings, 
but especially for pipes. Anina is distant about 14 miles to the 
south of Resicza and may be said to be a complete plant in itself. 
Here is a blast-furnace installation, a very large coal-washing sys¬ 
tem, and complete works for making screws and bolts. A little to 
the west of Anina the Resicza company possesses a complete flour 
mill. This mill is located at Oraviczabanya. At Roman-Bogsan 
the Resicza company conducts the manufacture of agricultural imple¬ 
ments. 

The best coal in Hungary is reputed to come from Anina. Resicza 
undertakes to manufacture its own charcoal, and for this purpose does 
not have to go beyond its own forests for wood. The annual output 
capacity of the charcoal plant is 15,000 tons. This charcoal plant is 
producing wood alcohol, which is sold for the most part to German 
dye works. The alcohol capacity per day is 800 liters (845 quarts). 
The coal mined in Anina is rich in lyas. A remarkable property of 
the lyas coal of Anina is its suitability for the production of coke. 
There is an annual output of about 300,000 tons of this lyas coal. 
The products of the Anina mine, as well as those of Resicza, are 
treated for the most part in the company’s furnaces, the remainder 
being sold. For the purpose of converting the various coal mined 
into coke there are 60 furnaces in Resicza and 84 in Anina. 


62 


MACHINE-TOOL. TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 


OUTPUT AND MACHINE TOOLS IN USE. 

The manufacturing works at Resicza are concerned largely with 
equipment for railway bridges and iron construction, ship and engine 
parts, and in June, 1909, there were extensive orders in hand 
for field-artillery equipment. Resicza has been called upon during 
the past five years to supply stem and stern frames and other pieces 
for the Armstrong Works of England, and for Ansaldo, of Genoa, 
Italy, for use in war-ship construction. In the machinery department 
the number of machine tools approximates 350. These machines 
are almost without exception driven by electric power derived from 
overhead shafting. This electric-drive is by induction motors of 
20.8 per second alternations and 500 3-phase voltage. 

In a great plant like Resicza I fully expected to find a first-class 
showing of American machine tools. There are some excellent tools 
of American make in evidence, but the number is very small. I 
observed three Gisholt turret lathes. These machines are working 
up and finishing off projectiles. I understand that a Gisholt repre¬ 
sentative visited Resicza and spent some time in the works giving in¬ 
structions relative to these machines, and, so far as is known, Gisholt’s 
engineer is the only American machine-tool man whom the Resicza 
officials can recall having visited that establishment. The Gisholt 
machines are liked in principle, but I gathered that the size of the 
machines in use is regarded as somewhat light for the heavy duty 
imposed. 

I counted four grinders from the Landis Tool Company, of 
Waynesboro, Pa. These Landis machines are highly appreciated. 
There are two vertical drills in use from Prentice Brothers Company, 
Worcester, Mass., and one No. 2 and one No. 3 milling machine from 
the Cincinnati Milling Machine Company, Cincinnati, Ohio. Pratt 
& Whitney, of Hartford, Conn., are represented by a thread-milling 
machine, and Gould & Eberhardt, of Newark, N. J., are in evidence 
with a gear cutter. 

So far as my observation goes the foregoing comprise all the Amer¬ 
ican machine tools in service at Resicza. In the forge department 
I observed plate-cutting shears from Sack, of Rath, Germany. 
Resicza has made all rolls for its rolling-mill installation. In the 
forge department there is one hydraulic press of 600 tons power, 
furnished by Breuer, Schumacher & Co., of Kalk, near Cologne. 
The same German firm has supplied the horizontal hydraulic press 
employed in forming the larger sized projectiles. 

ORDNANCE WORK-THE FORGE DEPARTMENT. 

At the present time Resicza has in hand an order for projectiles 
of 21, 24, and 32 centimeters. These shells are built of open-hearth 
steel, Martin process. The furnaces in the forge department are 
blast operated. Resicza is making both cast-drawn and forged-steel 
projectiles. All projectiles which are hardened are also drawn as 
a preliminary to the operation. Breuer, Schumacher & Co. pumps 
are in use in connection with the projectile drawing machines. The 
pumps are electrically driven. This same German firm has also 
supplied accumulators. 

Resicza is also building for the Government the steel work required 
for a recent type of field-kitchen wagons adopted by the Austro- 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 63 

Hungarian services. The kitchen wagons contract was divided up 
among a number of Austro-Hungarian firms, but Resicza secured 
most of the steel work because of its facilities to undertake the com¬ 
plicated conditions involved in the design. 

In the forge department are two steam hammers built by Resicza, 
four English hammers, without name of maker, and two German 
steam hammers. The heating furnaces of this department have been 
built by Resicza. In addition to the hammers just mentioned, the 
forge department contains three German-made hammers, each of a 
capacity of five tons. I observed in this forge department some 
forged-steel rudder-frame work in hand for the Austro-Hungarian 
service. 

In the forge department there is considerable work being turned 
out in connection with car-hook couplings, and these couplings are 
hydraulically pressed in one operation. Resicza is building shields 
for field artillery. I witnessed five of these shields under Mannlicher 
fire delivered at about 50 paces, and in every case the shields were 
effective. Resicza is so certain of its artillery shields that the plates 
are very frequently machined and finished to the last stage before 
being subjected to gun fire. All shields in the Austro-Hungarian 
service carry the test marks of the rifle fire. In connection with the 
artillery orders, Resicza was turning out in June, 1909, an apparently 
good-sized order for field-gun projectiles. 

In all there are about 400 men in the forge department. The best 
forge hands receive on an average 10 crowns ($2.03) per day. One 
foreman receives 300 crowns ($61) per month, and two foremen receive 
each 200 crowns ($40.60) per month. Forge helpers receive from 
5 to 6 crowns ($1.02 to $1.22) per day. A day’s work comprises 10 
hours. The shops open at 7 a. m. and close at 6 p. m. Resicza is 
now working on night shifts. The night work extends from 6 p. m. 
to 12 midnight, and from 2 a. m. until 7 a. m. Two hours are 
allowed for sleep—that is, from 12 midnight until 2 a. m. 

ROOM FOR AMERICAN TOOLS-GUN WORK-MACHINERY BUILDING. 

The gun department at Resicza is executing some very exact and 
high-grade work. This department undertakes to turn out much of 
that class of material which would ordinarily devolve on a precision 
laboratory. The requirements call for the very best grades of accu¬ 
rately working machine tools. There is a field in this particular 
department for the best grades of American medium-sized machine 
tools. There are a number of makes of American tools which would 
serve to economize, without much doubt, various work in this depart¬ 
ment and enhance both the present speed and accuracy. Much of 
the equipment in the gun department is old, and this is especially 
true of the drills, both as to the sensitive and the radial drills. The 
great majority of the lathes are of Vulkan make. Resicza is making 
its own files. The gun shields which are being worked up in the 
gun department are of chrome steel. The gun wheels are not built 
by Resicza, but are supplied by the war department authorities. 
In addition to the Vulkan lathes in the gun department there were 
two lathes from Fegyver Gepgyar R. I., Budapest. 

The main machinery department was employing about 1,400 men. 
The greatest number of machine tools from any one firm in this 
building is probably from Vulkan. Vulkan has furnished a great 


64 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 


variety of machines, but the Yulkan lathe is the one type of tool 
most in evidence. There were a number of vertical millers of 
Yulkan manufacture, closely resembling the Becker design. There 
were some German vertical millers in evidence which also seemed to 
be built on Becker lines. Alfred Herbert (Limited), of Coventry, 
England, has placed some sensitive drills, and Zimmermann, of Chem¬ 
nitz, has provided a number of heavy lathes. One heavy tool of the 
lathe type was noticeable, apparently English in build, but without 
the name of the maker showing. Whitworth, of Manchester, Eng¬ 
land, has supplied a heavy lathe, and Ernst Schiess has installed a 
large-sized planer. Yulkan has supplied some cold-steel saws, as have 
also De Longdoz and Deneffe, both of Belgium. 

VARIETIES OF WORK AND TOOLS. 

There was a quantity of railway-carriage bearing boxes and bear¬ 
ings in process of construction. Resicza uses cast iron for these 
boxes, filled in with white metal, and forms the bearing with a cold 
mandrel. There is no machine work on these bearings. Among 
other foreign tools in use were slotters from Loewe and Yulkan; heavy 
vertical millers from Kendall & Gent, Manchester, England; shapers, 
vertical millers, boring mills, planers, and gear cutters from Yulkan; 
traveling cranes from Ganz; vertical miller from Fairbairn, of Leeds; 
a heavy vertical miller from De Fries; thread cutters from Zimmer¬ 
mann; milling machine from Buckton, of Leeds; and a radial drill 
from Whitworth. Both the Deutsche-Niles Werke and the Globe 
Pneumatic Engineering Company (Limited), the latter of London, 
have supplied pneumatic tools. 

Yulkan has furnished a small grinder, which is in use in the ma¬ 
chinery department. The workmen at the Gisholt turret lathe in this 
department are earning on an average of 5 crowns ($1.01) per day. 
Considerable machining work was in progress on locomotive wheels 
and rolling-mill equipment, and attention was called to some fine 
casting work for screw presses. All tires are flanged on hot to the 
wheels by transmission hammers, this process being equivalent to 
riveting. Practically all work in the machinery shops is piecework. 

There is much bridge construction work now in progress at Resicza, 
and I observed that oxygen-gas cutting machines are employed. Mr. 
Balint has designed a guide pointer for the burner of this device 
which makes it possible to run the tool close to the metal and to 
guide more accurately the cutting operation. This oxygen-gas ma¬ 
chine is cutting nickel chrome steel 5 mm. thick at a rapid rate. 
Schultz & Goebel have supplied some heavy shearing machines for 
use in the bridge-building shops. 

OUTPUT OF ORES AND OF IRON AND STEEL. 

The annual output of iron ore from all the mines of the Privileged 
Austro-Hungarian State Railway Company is about 200,000 tons. 
The manganese ore used in the manufacture of raw iron is produced 
from the company’s own mines, the annual output being about 
10,000 tons. In addition to iron ore, sulphurous siliceous deposits 
are found in the southern parts of the mining district, while consider¬ 
able quantities of cuprum ore are found in scattered masses in the 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 65 

district of Csiklova. The products of the mines are sold for the 
purpose of being smelted and further worked up. 

In the working up of raw iron, gray Bessemer and Martin raw, 
half white, are produced in Resicza, while Anina affords gray cast 
iron and white wrought iron. The refineries of the company are the 
Bessemer, Martin, and crucible furnaces at Resicza and a puddling 
plant at Anina. Resicza produces about 1,000 tons of crucible steel 
per annum. This crucible steel is used for hoops, wheels, armor 
plate, and other special castings. The crucibles are made in the com¬ 
pany’s brick kilns. 

The particular ingredients of the different kinds of steel produced 
are as follows: 



Bessemer 

steel. 

Acid. 

Basic 

(hard). 

Basic 

(soft). 

Crucible. 

Carbon. 

0.343 

.040 

.150 

.06 

.080 

Trace. 

0.272 
.1570 
.198 
.056 
.087 

0.245 

.080 

.300 

Trace. 

.048 

Trace. 

0.07 

.02 

.12 

0.650 

.161 

.507 

Silicon. 

Manganese. 

Copper.•.. 

Phosphorus. 



Sulphur. 








The Resicza and the Anina rolling mills turn out on an average 
about 100,000 tons of rolled iron yearly. Of this quantity about 25 
per cent is in railway rails, 10 per cent in rough and fine plates, 5 
per cent in hoop iron, 20 per cent in girders, and 40 per cent in various 
kinds of rolled iron. 


MISCELLANEOUS OUTPUT. 

The machine and forging shops combined afford a yearly output of 
about 10,000 tons of material, consisting in the main of railway car 
wheels, mounted on axles, steel forgings, rough and machined, and 
steel castings. The bridge shops are producing annually about 4,000 
tons of varied iron construction, railway switches, and crosses. The 
nail and screw factory at Anina produces as high as 2,500 tons of fin¬ 
ished nails and screws annually. 

The building of agricultural implements at the Roman-Bogsan 
plant is confined principally to iron plows and field implements. 
The present annual output is about 12,000 iron plows, 5,000 skeleton 
plows, and from 200 to 300 tons of other agricultural machines. It 
is proposed to extend the Roman-Bogsan plant so as to include a tool¬ 
making shop. 

The annual output at the brick kilns in Resi6za is 1,800 tons of tile 
and nearly 1,000 tons of fire bricks. As high as 4,000,000 bricks are 
made annually from the granulated blast furnace slag. In addition 
there is a brick kiln which the company is operating in Roman-Bogsan, 
annually producing an average of nearly 3,000,000 building bricks. 

The company’s limekilns in Kolcza and Oravicza have an annual 
output, respectively, of 6,000 and 8,000 tons of burnt lime. 

In Oravicza a cement factory of the same company is producing 
annually about 2,500 tons of cement, and there is a petroleum refinery 
and machine factory having an annual output of from 6,000 to 8,000 
tons. In Bogsan and Oravicza the flour mills have a grinding 
capacity of about 10,000 tons of flour annually. 

H. Doc. 913, 61-2-5 























66 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 


There are about 100 kilometers of railway, part of which has three- 
rail tracks, with 1,436 and 650 mm. gage, respectively. In all there 
are 15 locomotives and about 500 trucks and cars utilized for trans¬ 
port service in hauling raw material and finished products. 

For the protection of the mines, forests, and factories, there is a 
guard force of not less than 700 men. This force is additional to the 
total force of 18,000 workmen carried on the pay rolls of The Privi¬ 
leged Austro-Hungarian State Railway Company. No other com¬ 
pany in Hungary occupies so important a position in the economic 
development of the country, and its prosperity may well be taken as 
indicative of conditions generally in the Hungarian territory. 

BOHEMIA-MO RAVI A MACHINE WORKS. 

The machine-tool installation in the Bohemia-Moravia Machine 
Works (Prvni Ceskomoravska Tovarna na Stroje v Praze) is one of 
the best in the Prague district. Upon visiting this establishment the 
writer was received by Director B. Marik, who accorded every facility 
for the inspection of the works, and to whom, as well as to the officers 
of the engineering staff, acknowledgments are due for the courtesies 
extended. 

In all there are about 520 machine tools in service in the various 
shops, and of this number fully 102 are of American origin. The 
merits of American machine tools appear to be well understood at this 
plant, for the engineers were not only conversant regarding the tools 
in use of American build, but were more than usually well posted re¬ 
garding the general run of American types. Following a two-hour 
inspection the engineer in charge of the machinery department was 
asked for his general views regarding American machine tools, and 
his reply was that they were easily first. He furthermore gave as his 
opinion that the time would not come when American machine tools, 
generally speaking, would be equaled by Continental makes. 

The Bohemia-Moravia Works hold one of the leading positions 
among Austrian plants in the building of high-grade machinery. It 
is because the material turned out is of first quality that the best 
machine tools are demanded. This plant was founded in 1871. Its 
organization was from the beginning a stock company, and the occa¬ 
sion for its existence was largely the heavy demand in the early 
seventies for sugar machinery—a demand so great that it was with 
difficulty that machinery could be obtained to meet the requirements 
of the many new plants springing up. The Bohemia-Moravia Works 
completed the erecting of buildings rapidly, and by March, 1872, were 
able to begin the construction of machinery. By the end of 1872 suf¬ 
ficient business had been undertaken to make possible the payment of 
a 15 per cent dividend. 

VARIED LINES OF MANUFACTURE TAKEN UP. 

From 1873 until early in the eighties the new works suffered from 
the general business depression which at that period existed in 
Europe. Many of the recently built sugar factories became bankrupt, 
and this new establishment was not only subjected to heavy losses, but 
was even obliged in one instance to take over a factory, "in order to 
counteract the depression in sugar machinery it engaged in building a 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY 67 

general line of mining machinery, and this adjunct was favored by 
the springing up of new coal-mining companies in north Bohemia. 
Notwithstanding the fact that unfavorable conditions lasted until the 
close of 1879, the new company had recovered largely from its losses 
through excellent management, and had favorably sold the sugar 
plant which had been taken over. 

With the introduction of the mining machinery department, the 
new company inaugurated the building of steam engines, pumps, and 
other machines belonging to power installation equipments, and the 
sale of machinery was pushed into Russian territory. At the same 
time an export trade was built up for the disposal of sugar machines. 
Connections were formed in India, South America, Italy, and Sweden, 
and the new company established a permanent office in Kiev, Russia. 
But the sugar machinery business diminished toward 1884, and in 
order to supply additional working sources, the building of central 
heating installations and ventilation systems was undertaken, as well 
as drying plants and cooling machinery. The increase of the Russian 
customs made it eventually necessary to abandon the Kiev office. 

In 1889 machinery fittings and equipment necessary for bridge 
building were acquired from the Prague Iron Industry Company. 
This acquisition also involved the transfer of about 200 experienced 
bridge-building workmen to the Bohemia-Moravia Works. The 
bridge-building department has gained renown for the firm. 

The sugar industry having lost in stability by 1890, the Bohemia- 
Moravia Works decided to substitute for that line of manufacture the 
building of locomotives. Ground for the locomotive shops was made 
ready in 1899, and on April 28, 1900, the first locomotive was de¬ 
livered to the Austrian State Railways. Immediately following the 
building of the first engine, there were received a number of impor¬ 
tant orders from the state railway authorities, and to-day the loco¬ 
motive department is one of the important adjuncts of manufacture 
at this plant. 

NATURE AND VOLUME OF PRESENT OUTPUT. 

The general lines of manufacturing work undertaken at the Bo¬ 
hemia-Moravia Works comprise steam engines of all sizes, gas motors, 
suction gas plants, furnace gas motors, gins, cranes and elevators, 
transmission systems, steam conduits, steam and gas motor plants, 
Francis turbines, waterwork plants for town supply, pumping plants, 
refrigerating machines, ice-making plants, cooling systems for brew¬ 
eries and abattoirs, stone and coal breakers, stamps, graphite mills, 
steam road rollers, iron construction for waterworks, sluices, movable 
weirs, air sluices, caissons, air compressors, pile drivers, sorting plants 
for sand work, and various disintegrating machines. By 1906 this 
firm had turned out steam engines representing a total of 101,075 
horsepower. This included the engines for the Prague central elec¬ 
tric establishment. It had also, up to the same date, produced, ex¬ 
clusive of locomotive boilers, 1,010 steam boilers of varied systems. 

In the mining and smelting department the firm undertakes to build 
complete fittings of shaft plants and the various equipment for ele¬ 
vators and winding engines, mine ventilators, and air compressors. 
In central heating the firm has effected about 200 installations, in¬ 
clusive of schools, hospitals, and theaters. In the bridge-building 


68 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 


line, during the 38 years of its existence, the Bohemia-Moravia Works 
have delivered and mounted a total of 2,061 bridges, of which 1,518 
were for railway purposes. 

LOCOMOTIVE CONSTRUCTION. 

The locomotives built by the firm are after the Golsdorf design, 
and are intended to make fast time. The system employed is the 
4-cylinder compound, and the cylinder disposition is in accordance 
with the Atlantic type, as known in the United States. The first 
engine built by the Prague works of this type was finished in July, 
1901, and this engine showed a speed of 140 kilometers per hour. 
The principal dimensions of the engine are: 

Millimeters. 


Piston stroke___ 680 

Driving rod lengths_1, 915 

High pressure slide valve, light length_ 162 

High pressure slide valve, outside length_ 288 

High pressure slide valve, outside covering_ 31 

High pressure slide valve, inside negative covering_ 8 

Low pressure slide valve, light length_ 146 

Low pressure slide valve, outside length_ 286 

Low pressure slide valve, outside covering_ 30 

Low pressure slide valve, inside negative covering_ 3 

Streaming in channel, width, high and low pressures_ 40 

Streaming on channel, width, high and low pressure_ 76 


The Bohemia-Moravia Works are turning out between 60 and 70 
locomotives per year. Schmidt superheaters are employed, and also 
Golsdorf superheaters. These locomotives are designed to work 
under steam pressure of 12 to 15 atmospheres. It has been noted in 
other reports that the general tendency on the Continent is to lower 
steam pressures. The Breda Works of Milan were adhering to 16- 
atmosphere pressures as late as May, 1908. All locomotives from 
the Prague shops are given at least three coats of paint. This is ex¬ 
clusive of the filling-in coats. 

MACHINE DEPARTMENT-AMERICAN TOOLS. 

During 1909 a number of fine tools were purchased from the 
Niles-Bement-Pond Company, of New York, at figures said to be 
considerably lower than Continental quotations. The purchases in¬ 
clude two heavy boring mills and one heavy lathe. This same firm 
has supplied additional lathes and also a steam hammer. The last- 
mentioned machine is a type not frequently seen on the Continent. 
It is the writer’s observation that there has been a very limited sale 
in Europe of American steam hammers. The machine furnished by 
Niles-Bement-Pond, however, is probably the best of the lot of steam 
hammers in this Prague plant, and so long as European prices can 
be met there is no reason why steam hammers from the United States 
should not enter the European market to full advantage. Broadly 
speaking, European prices can be met by American machine-tool 
manufacturers, but the writer has repeatedly asserted that it is not 
necessary to go below prevailing prices in the United States. Euro¬ 
pean buyers of machine tools, and by the word “ buyers ” is meant 
the directors of works and not importers, have repeatedly told the 
writer that they would welcome an opportunity to buy American 
machine tools in Europe at American prices. 

















MACHINE-TOOL TRADE TN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 


69 


PRICES PAID FOR AMERICAN MACHINES. 

The Bohemia-Moravia Machine Works give the following as the 
prices paid in recent years for some American machine tools: 


Name of maker, and type and dimensions. 

Shop 

num¬ 

ber. 

When 

pur¬ 

chased. 

Price de¬ 
livered in 
Prague. 

F. E. Reed Co.: 

Lathe, 255 x 1,930 mm. 

653 

1908 

SI, 096 
386 

Lathed. 

519 

1900 

Bullard Machine Tool Co.: 

Vertical boring mill, 30". 

634 

1908 

1,099 

1,349 

2,537 

8,278 

4,826 

929 

Pratt & Whitney Co.: 

Turret lathe, 2" x 26". 

650 

1908 

Turret lathe, 3" x 36". 

596 

1906 

Niles-Bement-Pond Co.: 

10" vertical boring mill. 

655 

1908 

6" vertical boring mill. 

654 

1908 

1,100-pound steam hammer. 

• 652 

1908 

Lathe, 24' x 12'. 

651 

1908 

1,053 

Lathe, 32" x 14'. 

597 

1906 

L685 

9,819 

2,313 

1,827 

2,990 

1,388 

1,237 

804 

Wm. Sellers & Co.: 

Planer, 10 7 x 75". 

644 

1908 

Bradford Machine Tool Co.: 

Lathe 470 x 1,975 mm. 

600 

1906 

Lodge & Shipley Machine Tool Co.: 

Lathe, 350 x 3,380 mm. 

598 

1906 

Cincinnati Shaper Co.: 

1 double shaper V. F. 1. 

629 

1907 

Bickford Drill and Tool Co.: 

Badial borinc mill H. R. 

645 

1908 

Acme Machinery Co.: 

1 screw cutter No. 6. 

601 

1906 

1 screw cutter No. 3. 

602 

1906 

Cincinnati Milling Machine Co.: 

1 nniyerssl milling machine No. 2... 

513 

1900 

796 

1 uniVe r sal milling machine No. 3..... 

646 

1908 

1,743 

Cleveland Automatic Machine Co.: 

1 1 n Clleyelnnd automatic..... 

626 

1907 

1,257 



The following-named American machine tools, in addition to those 
already mentioned, were seen on the Bohemia-Moravia floors: 

Flather & Co., Nashua, N. H-Lathes. 

Mark Flather Planer Co., Nashua, N. H-Planers. 

Jones & Lamson Machine Co., Springfield, Yt-Turret lathe. 

Becker-Brainard Milling Machine Co., Hyde Park, 

Mass_Vertical miller. 

Wm. Powell Planer Co., Worcester, Mass-Planers. 

Whitcomb Machine Tool Co., Worcester-Planer. 

Prentice Brothers Co., Worcester_Vertical drill. 

j. E. Snyder & Co., Worcester--Vertical drill. 

Universal Machine Co., Providence, It. I-___ Grinders. 

Gould & Eberhardt, Newark, N. J-Gear cutters, shaper. 

Bement, Miles & Co., Philadelphia_Horizontal miller and slotter. 

Landis Tool Co., Waynesboro, Pa-—Grinders. 

G. A. Gray Co., Cincinnati_Planers. 

American Tool Works Co., Cincinnati-Planers, radial drill. 

Warner & Swasey Co., Cleveland, Ohio_Nut-facing machine, hexagonal 

turret lathes, and turret 
lathes. 

W. F. & J. Barnes Co., Rockford, Ill-Vertical drill. 

The demand now at the Bohemia-Moravia Works is for good 
milling machines, but there is always a demand, as the engineer in 
charge of the machine shops remarked, for good lathes. This same 
official stated to the writer that he would like to obtain a good strong 
machine to grind olf bearing boxes and crosshead guides for loco¬ 
motive work. 



















































70 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 


EUROPEAN-MADE MACHINE TOOLS IN USE. 

Among the foreign tools in service the following were noticed: 

Ducommun, Mulhausen, lathes; Sondermann & Stier, Chemnitz, lathes, 
horizontal borers, and slotters; Schubert & Salzer, Chemnitz, lathes; Zimmer- 
mann, Chemnitz, lathes; J. E. Reinecker, Chemnitz, nut-facing machine and 
two grinders; Vulkan, Vienna, vertical drills; Grafenstaden, vertical millers; 
Schuchardt & Schutte, Vienna, vertical drill and hob machines; Fairbairn, 
Naylor, Macpherson & Co., Leeds, heavy slotter; Biernatzki & Co., Chemnitz, 
cutting-off machines; Geo. Richards & Co., Limited, Broadheath, England, 
facing planer; Ludwig Loewe, Berlin, vertical miller and lathe. 

There is a large line of radial drills installed which are the manu¬ 
facture of the Bohemia-Moravia Works. The Schuchardt & Schutte 
vertical drill is without name of maker. This machine is regarded as 
the best vertical drill in the shops. The Richards facing planer is 
referred to as a machine of exceptional merit. The hob machines 
installed by Schuchardt & Schutte are said to be the manufacture of 
Pfauter, of Chemnitz. 

The planer supplied by Wm. Sellers & Co. is No. 1332. This 
machine was bought direct from the Philadelphia firm. There is an 
Ingersoll-Rand Company air compressor drive on this Sellers planer 
(Imperial type 11). 

The drive in the shops is electric power, generated by steam tur¬ 
bine's. One 900-kilowatt turbine was observed in service of the 
Zvonicek system. A new 3,000-kilowatt turbine is in process of 
building. 

The work turned out is of an exceptionally high character, and is 
unexcelled, in the writer’s opinion, in Austrian territory. The work¬ 
men employed are unusually intelligent, and on all sides one is 
impressed with the skill and handiness of the machinists. 

The Bohemia-Moravia Works in August, 1909, were employing 
about 1,500 men. A day’s work comprises nine hours and a good 
man at a machine will earn about 70 hellers (14J cents) per hour, 
or, say, 6.30 crowns ($1.28) per day; but he must be a good man, it is 
declared, to make these wages. 

BREITFELD, DANEK & CO. 

The works of the Maschinenbau-Actiengesellschaft, Breitfeld, 
Danek & Co., at Prague-Karolinenthal, Austria, are among the first 
engineering establishments in Bohemia. At the present time 2,000 
men are actively employed in the Karolinenthal shops in Prague, 
although, when business conditions are at the best, this figure is 
greatly augmented. The total number of men carried on the rolls 
in August, 1909, was 4,500, the 2,500 above the number engaged in 
Prague being scattered among the branch works in Aussig and 
Schlan, Bohemia, and Blansko, Moravia. 

The present firm is the outcome of a union of Breitfeld & Evans, 
of Prague (a firm founded as early as 1832), with Danek & Co., of 
Karolinenthal (founded in 1854), together with the branch establish¬ 
ment of the latter firm located in Aussig. The union of these two 
undertakings was accomplished in 1872, and in 1882 the plant of Fr. 
Reska, of Prague-Bubna, was absorbed by the combination. A still 
further acquisition was made in 1897 through the purchase of Prince 



MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. *71 

Salm’s Iron II orks located in Blansko, Moravia, and in 1899 the engi¬ 
neering works of Bolzano, Tedesco & Co., of Schlan, Bohemia, were 
similarly acquired. The capital of the present company is 10,000,000 
crowns ($2,030,000). ' 

The location of the shops in Ivarolinenthal is in a somewhat 
crowded district, owing to the growth of the town, but the main 
erecting shops are modern and finely constructed buildings. They 
are built of steel and concrete throughout, and afford plenty of light 
and good air. 

LINES OF MANUFACTURE. 

The business of this firm includes the manufacture of a varied line 
of engineering outputs, including many details, under the following 


Fig. 18.—Hydraulic flanging press, 600 tons pressure. Built by Breitfeld, Dangk & Co. 

principal heads: Mining-plant equipment; installations for iron and 
steel Avorks; blowing engines; steam engines of all types and de¬ 
scriptions; gas engines; gas-engine plants; steam and water turbines; 
ice-manufacturing plants; waterworks plants; bridge building and 
general structural ironwork; cranes; lifts; conveyors; steam, hy¬ 
draulic, and pneumatic presses; pumping engines; complete equip¬ 
ment for sugar factories and refineries, breweries, and starch and 
yeast factories; boilers; sawmill machinery; equipment for potteries 
and brickyards; cement-making machinery; flour-mill equipment; 
and railway signal and safety apparatus. 








1 2 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 

« 

The Breitfeld, Danek & Co. works have always catered to the 
foreign trade, and the list of their installations shows that they have 
sent equipment to far distant parts of the world. The writer has 



Fig. 19.—Cross compound engine using superheated steam; 1,200 indicated horsepower at 107 
revolutions per minute. Built by Breitfeld, Dangk & Co. 

observed numerous Breitfeld-Danek engines in Austrian plants, and 
has been impressed with the high grade of workmanship and finish 
displayed. 



Fig. 20.—Lathe in machine-tool department of Breitfeld, Danek & Co.’s works. Height of centers 
1,600 mm (59 m.); length between centers, 8,000 mm. (315 in.); length of bed, 12,500 mm. (492i in.).’ 
Built by Vulkan Works, Vienna. v 8 ’ 


The fact should not be lost sight of that sugar-making and refining 
machinery constitute the chief export of Breitfeld, Danek & Co.; 















MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 


73 


next in importance comes hydraulic machinery, and perhaps third 
place is taken by mining machinery. The export of mining machin¬ 
ery, it is stated, is chiefly confined to Russia. 

CIRCUMSTANCES PREVENT SPECIALIZING. 

These works illustrate in a very forcible way the peculiarity of 
machinery manufacturing in Europe. The varied lines of products 
which the firm undertakes to handle are indicative of the nature of 
the market. Little opportunity is found to specialize, and in order 
to keep the works fully employed it is found necessary to avail of 
varied lines of orders. The Francis type of turbine and also West- 
inghouse high-speed steam engines and Pelton wheels are built. 
The firm has probably done more in the building of sugar factories 
and refineries, steam engines, hydraulic and mining-machinery equip¬ 
ment than in any other line of product. In other words, the demands 
have probably been greater in these directions than in any other. 
Many of the finest installations on the Continent for coal sorting and 
washing are the work of this company, and numerous washing plants 
built by it, having capacities of 750 tons of coal in 10 hours, are in 
service in Austria. 

The building of sugar machinery was commenced in 1870 and 
deliveries at that early period were made in India and in Brazil. In 
1903, 1904, and 1905 the Prague firm turned its attention to Belgium, 
Netherlands, and France and their colonies, and in 1904 a complete 
plant was erected on the island of Santa Cruz. Since 1880 this firm 
has erected about 30 sugar factories and refineries in Austria-Hungary 
alone. An entire series of factories was built in Russia, 17 in Italy, 
and 8 in Sweden. 

Naturally, in a plant such as this, one expects to find a fine instal¬ 
lation of machine tools, and in this respect is not disappointed. 
There were found, however, many English tools of not recent date, 
showing that when the Breitfeld, Danek & Co. works first started 
they drew largely on English sources. 

AMERICAN MACHINE TOOLS WELL REPRESENTED. 

The following American machines are in service there: 

Jones & Lamson Machine Co., Springfield, Yt-2 turret lathes (1 of old and 

1 of new type). 

Becker Milling Machine Co., Hyde Park, Mass-1 No. 5 and 1 No. 6 vertical 

miller. 

Hendey Machine Co., Torrington, Conn__14 engine lathes. 

Bullard Machine Tool Co., Bridgeport, Conn-Vertical turret lathes and 2 

double boring mills. 

Gould & Eberhardt, Newark, N. J_Gear cutter No. 727 and 1 

No. 2 grinder. 

Gleason Tool Co., Rochester, N. Y r -Heavy bevel gear planer. 

Stamp “C. F.” New York_1 horizontal metal saw cut¬ 

ter. 

Colburn Machine Tool Co., Franklin, Pa-Boring mill. 

Landis Tool Co., Waynesboro, Pa_—1 No. 3 grinder and 1 

grinder 6 millimeter head. 

Cleveland Automatic Machine Co., Cleveland, Ohio__Tlireaders. 

National-Acme Manufacturing Co., Cleveland-Automatic machine No. 52. 

Warner & Swasey Co., Cleveland_2 horizontal turret lathes (1 

No. 2 and 1 No. 5). 

3 nut head making machines. 


Acme Machinery Co,, Cleveland 













74 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 


American Tool Works Co., Cincinnati_1 standard 24-incli lathe, 2 

lb-inch Challenge, and 2 
18-inch Challenge lathes, 
supplied by De Fries & Co. 

Lodge & Shipley Machine Tool Co., Cincinnati-3 18-inch engine lathes and 6 

large lathes. 

Baker Brothers, Toledo_Vertical cutter. 

Bickford Drill and Tool Co., Cincinnati-Radial drills. 

G. A. Gray Co., Cincinnati-Planers. 

Cincinnati Milling Machine Co., Cincinnati-3 No. 2 and 1 No. 3 millers, 

and 1 grinder. 

Morton Manufacturing Co., Muskegon Heights, 

Nlicli_1 heavy horizontal shaper 

and 1 traveling vertical 

slotter. 

Gisholt Machine Co., Madison, Wis_Turret lathes and 3 double 

boring mills. 

Ivempsmith Manufacturing Co., Milwaukee, Wis__.Plain miller. 

In the wood-working department there is one No. 3 universal trim¬ 
ming machine from the American Machinery Manufacturing Com¬ 
pany, of Boston. As a rule, the majority of the tools in the wood¬ 
working department are from Kirchner & Co., of Leipzig, Germany. 

The opinion was expressed by the shopmaster that the new Jones 
& Lamson turret lathe was preferable to the older type manufactured 
by that company. The shopmaster declared that the new tool gives 
more accurate results for large work. 

A mechanic working at the new Jones & Lamson machine receives 
about 80 hellers (161 cents) an hour. Nine hours constitute a day’s 
work. 

In the Hencley group of lathes is a tool bearing the name of 
Schuchardt & Schiitte, which so closely resembles the make of the 
Torrington tool that it is difficult to distinguish them apart. A dis¬ 
tinguishing feature, however, was pointed out by the shopmaster, 
who also advised that the lathe was built in Europe. The American 
lathes in service are all spoken of highly. Lathe men at the Ameri¬ 
can tools receive, as a rule, from 60 to 70 hellers (121 to 14J cents) 
per hour, working on a nine-hour basis. 

Breitfeld, Danek & Co. state that the prices paid within recent 
years for American machine tools have been as follows: 


Name of maker. 

Type and dimensions. 

When 

pur¬ 

chased. 

Price 

delivered 

in 

Prague. 

Cincinnati Milling Machine 

1 No. 2 miller, long U cross-feed table. 

1906 

$969 

Co. 




Universal tool grinder No. 2. 

1906 

869 

Lodge & Shipley Machine 

High-speed lathe, 345 mm. x 6680 mm. bed. 

1906 

2,505 

Tool Co. 


Do. 

High-speed lathe, 350 mm. center, 7910 bed with 
patent head. 

1907 

2,946 

National-Acme Manufactur- 

Automatic turret lathe with one set of tools. 

1907 

1,355 

ing Co. 



Bickford Drill and Tool Co., 
Cincinnati. 

Simple radial drill, initialed “W. B. 3. C.” for elec¬ 
tric drive. 

1907 

2,117 

Cleveland Automatic Ma- 

3-spindle 2-inch automatic drill, 3 speeds. 

1907 

1,292 

chine Co. 


Gisholt Machine Co. 

Vertical turret and boring mill, 64-inch, 2 tool holders. 

1906 

4,169 




























MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 


75 


FOREIGN MAKES OF MACHINE TOOLS. 

Among the foreign tool manufacturers represented at the Breitfeld- 
Danek works are the following: 

Kirchner & Co., Leipzig, woodworking machine; J. E. Reinecker, Chemnitz, 
horizontal and vertical grinders, planer, double millers, and heavy lathes; 
Atelieis Ducommun, Mnlhausen, Germany, turret lathes and grinders; Ludwig 
Loewe, A. G., Berlin, double millers for facing heavy bolts, lathes, machines 
tor milling tooth wheel rims, vertical drills, and shapers; Drehbank-Fabrik und 
Eisengiesserei II. Wohlenberg, Hanover, Germany, lathes; Praecisions-Werk- 
zeugmascliinenfabrik Auerbach & Co., Dresden, milling machines; Ernst 
Schiess, Dusseldorf, Germany, heavy vertical miller and heavy horizontal bor¬ 
ing tool; Collett & Englehard, Offenbach-on-the-Main, Germany, radial and 
vertical drills; Hartmann, Chemnitz, slotters; Joh. Zimmermann, Chemnitz, 
shaper; Frederick Schmaltz, Offenbach-on-the-Main, grinder; Burton, Griffiths 
& Co., London, lathe; Smith, Peacock & Tennent, Leeds, England, numerous 
and varied lines of tools of many years’ installation; Maclea & March, Leeds, 
numerous lines of tools of early installation, comprising lathes, planers, slotters, 
and crank shapers; Walker Brothers, Sheffield, heavy lathes; Robey-Smith Com¬ 
pany, Manchester, bevel-wheel planer; John M. Smith & Co., Manchester, lathe; 
Selig, Sonnenthal & Co., London, grinder; Greenwood & Batley, Leeds, shapers; 
Vulkan Maschinenfabrik A. G., Vienna, a large line of medium size and heavy 
machine tools, comprising lathes, radial drills, boring mills, bevel-gear shapers, 
slotters and planers, and heavy lathes; Breitfeld, Danek & Co., Prague, numer¬ 
ous tools of home make; K. Jockel, Prague, Austria, planers. 

One Vulkan planer in service has a length of table of 7| meters 
(24.6 feet), a width of 3 meters (9.8 feet), and a working height of 
3 meters. There are numerous transportable electric drills and slot¬ 
ters in service. The early tools installed are largely of English 
origin. Latterly, however, the purchase of machine tools appears to 
have been largely confined to Austrian, American, and German 
sources. 

PRICES PAID FOR FOREIGN TOOLS. 

The managers give the following as the prices paid for foreign 
machine tools which rightly can be compared with medium-class 
American machines in service: 


Name of maker. 

Type and dimensions. 

When 

pur¬ 

chased. 

Price de¬ 
livered 
in 

Prague. 

Billeter & Klunz. 

Yeakley hammer, L. H,9,450-kilo tap, 600-mm. stroke. 

1906 

82,013 

J. E. Reinecker, Chemnitz .. 

No. 4 miller, automatic table 500 x 2,350 mm. 

1906 

1,757 

Do.. 

Screw-cutting lathe, 300x1,500 mm. L. De.„. 

1906 

670 

Do. 

Screw-cutting lathe, 210 x 1,000 L. De. 

1906 

362 

Do. 

Screw-cutting lathe, 240 x 1,500, all gear head SLD III. 

1908 

893 

Do. 

Screw-cutting lathe, 340 x 1,500, SLD VII. 

1908 

1,508 
4,564 

Do. 

Screw-cutting lathe, 650 x 7,000, CLD VIII, all gear 
head. 

1908 

Ludwig Loewe, A. G., Berlin. 

Fosdick radial drill, standard No. 6. 

1906 

1,672 

Do. 

Automatic miller No. 12. 

1908 

8,181 
6,883 
6,680 
712 

Do. 

Screw-cutting lathe No. 3 B, model II. 

1908 

Do. 

Screw-cutting lathe No. 3 B, model I. 

1908 

Vulkan Maschinenfabrik, 
Vienna. 

Screw-cutting lathe, 250 x 1,850 mm. centers. 

1906 

Do . 

Planer, 2,500 x 1,000 x 1,000, including electric clutch. 

1908 

2,539 







































76 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 


RINGHOFFER WORKS. 

The Ringhoffer Works, of Prague, are among the oldest and most 
noted of the many important machinery plants in Bohemia. The cor¬ 
rect name and address of this establishment is F. Ringhoffer, 
Smichow-Prag. Portions of the plant were founded as early as 1771, 
but the works proper, as they stand to-day, date from 1848. From 
the earliest period the family of Ringhoffer has retained possession 
of all parts of the plant. Baron Ringhoffer personally received the 
writer and accorded him every facility in connection with his visit. 
All parts of the establishment were open to inspection. 

These works are engaged in the manufacture of a diversified line 
of equipment, but by far the most important branch has to do with 
railway-carriage building. All kinds of cars of the European type 
for railroads and street railwa}^, from freight to complex car spe¬ 
cialties, and from the third-class passenger car to imposing royal 
salon carriages, are built. In addition, the output embraces motor 
cars, tenders, and snowplows. The Ringhoffer Works have built the 
imperial train of Austria, the ro}^al trains of Hungary, Roumania, 
and Bulgaria, and various salon cars for members of the imperial 
Austrian family. Among the countries to which Ringhoffer cars have 
been exported are Roumania, Servia, Turkey, Asia Minor, Egypt, 
Argentina, Algeria, Tunis, Italy, Switzerland, and Spain. 

In all, about 3,000 men are employed in the car shops. The total 
number of men necessary to run all departments is 5,200. This latter 
figure comprises the maximum force employed; that is to say, the 
force necessary when all departments are running full time. In 
August, 1909, the number of men engaged was 4,000. 

NATURE OF OUTPUT, MATERIAL, AND METHODS. 

It is the practice at Ringhoffer’s to employ Krupp steel for axles 
for cars destined for foreign railways. On cars built by Ringhoffer 
for Austrian railways axles from the Austrian works of Ternitz or 
Witkowitz are used. 

The carriages built by Ringhoffer are essentially European in 
type. Generally speaking, a modern Continental restaurant car is 
built and sold for 70,000 crowns ($14,210), while a typical corridor 
passenger coach fetches from 50,000 to 60,000 crowns ($10,150 to 
$12,180). 

The wood-working department in connection with the carriage 
building comprises a very fine shop, but the tools installed are mostly 
of German origin. In the hammer shop it was observed that all car 
hooks are pressed under steam presses. The installation in the ham¬ 
mer shop includes many steam hammers and hydraulic presses, and 
the Ringhoffer Works have built quite a number of the important 
tools in this shop. 

Other equipment built by Ringhoffer includes complete machinery 
for sugar works, breweries, and works for making alcohol; steam 
engines of all types, steam turbines, oil motors, mining machinery, 
railway rolling stock, etc. Ringhoffer controls the Zoelly turbine 
rights for Austria. 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 77 

In building Zoelly turbines the Ringhoffer Works employ Krupp 
metal for the body of the wheels. It is explained that, inasmuch as 
steam is admitted at from 10 to 15 atmospheres, the best material 
obtainable must be utilized in order to insure the wheels standing 
rigid under the temperature and pressure involved. Any deviation 
or plate, it is pointed out, will affect the life and safety "of the tur¬ 
bine. The material used is nickel steel. 

Ringhoffer is employing a packing ring on steam turbines formed 
of pressed coal. This packing requires no oil or lubricant, and is 
referred to as being very satisfactory. He is also building crude-oil 
machines ranging from 8 to 200 horsepower. These machines are 
declared to be very economical. 

Steam engine construction at Ringhoffer’s is exceptionally fine. I 
have had occasion to observe these engines in various Austrian 
installations, and have been impressed with both the beauty of the 
workmanship and the fine running qualities. The Ringhoffer shops 
have built many steaip engines for power installations of both ver¬ 
tical and horizontal types, and the work turned out by this firm is in 
keeping with the latest and most up-to-date methods in recognized 
steam practice. 

HOURS AND WAGES-OUTPUT PER MAN. 

A working day at the Ringhoffer plant involves nine hours, less 
two pauses of one-half hour each. This makes the actual working 
time eight hours, although the men are present at the shops for nine 
hours. The best workmen receive from 6 to 7 crowns ($1.22 to $1.42) 
per day, and laborers 3 to 4 crowns (61 to 81 cents) per day. In the 
hammer shop foremen receive 8 to 10 crowns ($1.62 to $2.03) per day, 
and the same statement applies to foremen in other departments. A 
workman who has been in the employ of the company for ten years 
receives a certificate to that effect and can not be discharged. In the 
event of slack conditions arising, the situation is met by first reducing 
the number of hours of work, followed, if need be, by the discharge 
of short-time men. There have been, it is stated, practically no 
strikes at the Ringhoffer Works, and it seems to be well recognized 
that the management of this fine plant has always endeavored to do 
the utmost for the welfare of its employees. Instances of welfare 
work at Ringhoffer’s embrace a sick fund, a superannuation fund for 
the official help, an old-age pension for workmen, and a loan society. 

The statement was submitted to the Ringhoffer management that 
it is the practice in many American machine-tool establishments and 
other works to keep a record of the production per man per year, 
basing the same on a record of all material produced within a given 
12 months, taking the value at the net price received by the manu¬ 
facturer and dividing this sum by the total working force, exclusive 
of the office help. The management was requested to give a similar 
computation regarding shop efficiency at Ringhoffer’s; in other words, 
the quotient which represents the production per man for one year. 
The figure supplied was 1,784 crowns ($362). 


78 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 


MACHINE TOOLS IN USE. 

Naturally, in a plant such as Ringhoffer’s, one expects to find the 
very best grades of machine tools. In many instances the machines 
were of a noteworthy character, although it must be admitted that 
there are a number of old tools doing service which, from the Ameri¬ 
can standpoint, could with advantage be replaced by several later 
types. 

The machine tools on the Ringhoffer floors have been drawn largely 
from American and German sources. About 25 years ago nearly all 
the tools bought were obtained from English sources. Many of these 
old English tools are now in service, but, relatively speaking, few 
English tools are being purchased to-day. The Ringhoffer floors 
show the situation in the machine-tool trade of to-day. The main 
competition is between American and German tools, and here, as 
at nearly every other point outside of Germany, the writer has heard 
overwhelming opinions in favor of the American products. There 
are German tools of exceptional merit, but always, broadly speaking, 
the general run of German machine tools are outclassed by the best 
grades of American machines. It is selling considerations which are 
largely responsible for the presence of German tools in certain mar¬ 
kets. Possibly 10 years ago German trade conditions were excep¬ 
tionally favorable in Austria by reason of political circumstances. 
But, if the opinions of many Austrian directors are to be considered, 
German merchants can not to-day expect any preferential treatment. 

AMERICAN MACHINE TOOLS COMPARED WITH GERMAN. 

Mr. T. Polan, the shopmaster of the screw-making shop, was 
asked if he found any features to criticise in the American ma¬ 
chine tools in use by him, and if he agreed with German criticism 
that many American tools were too light. Mr. Polan replied that his 
best tools were of American origin, that the American tools were not 
too light, and that he made this statement by reason of the fact that 
he, as superintendent of the shop, had imposed* very heavy work on 
the American machines. To emphasize his remarks, Mr. Polan asked 
the writer to accompany him to a group of tools in another part of 
the building, and called attention in particular to a planer from the 
G. A. Gray Company, of Cincinnati. The Gray tool, he declared, had 
been in service in the Ringhoffer shops for five years and worked to¬ 
day wdth all the accuracy it possessed when first purchased. It was 
kept constantly going and gave the most accurate results, and he did 
not hesitate to impose upon it very heavy work. For comparison, he 
next called attention to a German planer working close by and quite 
evidently possessing more metal than the Gray of the same size. The 
German tool, Mr. Polan declared, notwithstanding its greater dead 
weight of metal, possesses neither the strength nor the accuracy of the 
American machine. 

The only fault that could be found with American machine tools, 
the shopmaster remarked, was in the prices demanded. Practically 
all purchases of American tools, it was declared, were perforce made 
through German sources; in other words, the Bohemian firms were 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 


79 


largely compelled to apply to Germans to fill their requirements for 
American machine tools. American selling houses, it would seem, 
have not yet undertaken to enter this great territory and offer ma¬ 
chine tools as they would do in California or other distant States, and 
yet the Austrian territory has direct sea freight connection with the 
port of New York. 

AMERICAN MACHINE TOOLS AND PRICES PAID. 

The following are among the American machine tools on the Ring- 
hoffer floors, with prices and descriptions: 


Name of maker. 

Type and dimensions. 

When 

pur¬ 

chased. 

Price de¬ 
livered in 
Prague. 

Becker-Brainard MillingMa- 
chineCo.,HydePark,Mass. 

Vertical miller, No. 6, distance from center of spin¬ 
dle to face of column 610 mm. 

1908 

81,963 

Niles-Bement-PondCo., New 
York. 

Slotters, stroke (hub) 400 mm., distance from center 
of spindle to face of column 700 mm., diameter of 
table 850 mm. 

1906 

2,071 

Garvin Machine Co., New 

Shapers (800 mm.), stroke 600 mm. 

1907 

627 

York. 



Gould &Eberhardt, Newark, 
N. J. 

Bement, Miles & Co., Phila¬ 
delphia. 

Shaper (700 mm.), stroke 500 mm. 

1906 

404 

1 vertical boring machine. No. 574, distance from 
center of spindle to face of column 455 mm., diam¬ 
eter of holes up to 57 mm. 

1907 

1,216 

Landis Tool Co., Waynes- 

1 grinder, for material up to 57 mm. diameter. 

1904 

1,478 

boro, Pa. 


Baker Bros., Toledo, Ohio... 

Drills, distance from center of spindle to face of col¬ 
umn 305 mm., diameter of holes up to 38 mm. 

1907 

832 

Lodge & Shipley Machine 

1 lathe, 280 mm. x 2,490 mm. 

1907 

1,533 

Tool Co., Cincinnati. 


Do. 

1 lathe, 180 mm. x 800 mm. 

1907 

623 

Do. 

2 lathes, 208 mm. x 1,855 mm. 

1908 

829 

G. A. Gray Co., Cincinnati... 

2 planers, 660 mm. width, 660 mm. height, and 1,830 
mm. length of table. 

1908 

1,407 

Do. 

2 planers, 900 mm. wide, 910 mm. high, and 3,050 
mm. in length. 

1905 

1,854 


There were also a vertical drill from Prentice Brothers, Worcester, 
Mass.; two boring mills from Bullard Machine Tool Company, 
Bridgeport, Conn.; one borer from the Pond Machine Tool Company, 
Plainfield, N. J.; and turret lathes from Gisholt Machine Company, 
Madison, Wis. 


PRICES PAID FOR FOREIGN TOOLS. 

Among the foreign tools in use at the Ringlioffer Works the follow¬ 
ing were noted: 

Grafenstaden, milling machine, vertical millers and lathes, double horizontal 
miller, heavy horizontal boring mills; Schuchardt & Schiitte, Berlin, horizontal 
millers (no name), vertical drill (no name, bought three years ago for $1,218, 
and thought to be an American tool) ; Ducommun, Mulhausen, lathes; Colett & 
Engelhard, Offenbach, lathes; Karl Jockel, Prag-Weinberge, small double lathe; 
Wagner & Co., Dortmund, heavy double horizontal boring machine; Guillet et 
fils, Auxerres, woodworking planer; Skdfde Mekaniska Verkstad, two woodwork¬ 
ing filleting machines; Kendall & Gent, Manchester, heavy lathes; Smith, Pea¬ 
cock & Tennent, radial drills and triple shapers; Ernst Schiess, Dusseldorf, 
shapers, keyway cutters, lathes, and heavy planers; Frederick Schmaltz, Offen¬ 
bach, tool grinder; Campbell & Hunter, Leeds, radial drills; Vulkan, Vienna, 
lathes; E. Lebrun, Albert (Somme), lathes; Maclea & March, planers; Haber- 
sang & Zinzen, Dusseldorf, 4-spindle multiple drills. 


























80 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 


The prices paid for various foreign tools were as follows: 


Name of maker. 


E. Bendel, Magdeburg. 

Do. 

Maschinenfabrik Konigs- 
feld, Brunn, Austria. 
Krebs, Halle a. S. 

Hasenclever, Dusseldorf .... 

Schuchardt & Schiitte, 
Vienna. 

Briider Scherb, Vienna. 

Habersang & Zinzen. 

Buck&Hickmann, London.. 

Hasenclever. 

Frankfurter Maschinenfab¬ 
rik, Frankfort. 

Vulkan, Vienna. 


Type and dimensions. 


Buffer lathes, 1,300 mm. length. 

Buffer rod lathe (buffers to 450 mm.). 

Wood planer, size 400 mm. 

Plug miller. 

Bulldozer (Acme) material up to 75 mm. diameter.. 

j Landis threading machine, £ to 1£ inches. 

Friction press, diameter of spindle 280 mm., 560 tons. 

Borer, up to 30 mm. diameter. 

Swage miller, distance from center of spindle to face 
of column 450 mm. 

Screw press, stroke (hub) 300 mm. for screws up to 
30 mm. diameter. t 

Band saw, diameter of rolls 1,200 mm. 

Punching machine, up to 60 mm. diameter by 10 mm. 


When 

pur¬ 

chased. 

Price de¬ 
livered in 
Prague. 

/ 1905 

$853 

{ 1908 

926 

1906 

719 

1905 

1,143 

1906 

633 

f 1906 

3,547 

1 1909 

3,547 

/ 1906 

528 

\ 1907 

528 

' 1907 

4, 791 

1907 

560 

1908 

1,009 

1908 

1,839 

1908 

440 

1908 

792 


thick. 


WITKOWITZ WORKS. 

The Witkowitz Works in Moravia, Austria, in August, 1909, were 
working about 28,000 men. At the close of 1907 the actual number 
of employees was 27,844. This is one of the largest iron and steel 
establishments in all Europe. The correct name and address of the 
firm is Witkowitzer-Bergbau und Eisenhiitten-Gewerkschaft, Wit¬ 
kowitz. In organization and in the general conduct of affairs the 
Witkowitz Works resemble the Ivrupp Works at Essen. They differ 
from Essen principally in the fact that gun construction is not un¬ 
dertaken. The output of the Essen shops is confined practically to 
gun building, armor-plate construction, railway material, and iron 
and steel forgings. At Witkowitz the output embraces pig iron for 
castings and puddling, cast-iron parts, tempered castings, molded 
steel castings for machinery and for shipbuilding, nickel steel of all 
kinds, wheels for locomotives and tenders, armor plates, crucible 
steel blocks, boilers, material for bridge construction of all descrip¬ 
tions, railway material, pipes, iron plates, fireproof bricks and tiles, 
and complete plant installations for mines, foundries, and coke and 
gas works. 

The following observations are based on a two days’ inspection of 
the Witkowitz Works. The general director, Frederick Schuster, 
accorded the writer every facility in visiting the various shops. The 
works are the property of S. M. von Rothschild and Gebriider Gut- 
mann, of Vienna. 

LOCATION AND FOUNDING OF THE WORKS. 

The location of these works is in the northeast of Moravia. Por¬ 
tions of the holdings extend into the adjacent territory of East Sile¬ 
sia. The East Silesia properties comprise mines, which constitute 
the southwestern tier of the coal fields of Prussian Silesia. Coal 
deposits were discovered in Moravia by an iron worker as far back 
as 1770 to 1780, and coal mining in the Ostrau districts dates from 
that time. In 1782 it is said that there was an output of 1,200 tons, 



























MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 


81 


and in 1872 the output had reached the figure of 1,200,000 tons. In 
the year 1907 the output amounted to 7,548,620 tons. This last 
figure includes the output of the Witkowitz shaft, situated in the 
adjoining Prussian territory. In 1907 the production of coke fig¬ 
ured at 1,767,420 tons. 

The Witkowitz Iron Works w T ere established in 1829. The origi¬ 
nator was Archduke Rudolph, the then Archbishop of Olmutz, who 
was also at the time owner of the Friedland Iron Works in Moravia. 
The Witkowitz Works were the first in Austria to erect a coke fur¬ 
nace and to adopt the puddling process. On the death of the arch¬ 
duke, in 1831, the property passed into the hands of the Prince 
Archbishop Count Chotek, who, in turn leased it to a syndicate. In 
1843 the banking house of Rothschild, located in Vienna, purchased 
the property. From the early founding of the works there has 
been continuous progress, development, and enlarging of the plant; 
but the chief impulse was given in the latter part or the forties by 
the adoption of steam power in place of the water power which had 
been formerly used. 

The construction of the Kaiser Ferdinand Railway, traversing the 
Austrian district, established a connection between the Vienna dis¬ 
trict and Prussian Silesia and the East and resulted in a further de¬ 
velopment of production, chiefly in railroad material. This new rail¬ 
way connection afforded increased outlet facilities for the Witkowitz 
products, and with wider outlets there came a quickening in the 
growth of the works. The introduction of the Bessemer process in 
1865 made the production of steel on a large scale feasible, and up to 
the present year the growth of the Witkowitz plants has been unin¬ 
terrupted. 

STATISTICS OF DEVELOPMENT. 

In 1848 the Witkowitz Works comprised 55 officials, 31 foremen, 
and 1,001 workmen; in 1880 there were 127 officials, 125 foremen, and 
6,393 workmen; and in 1908 the records show 929 officials, 450 fore¬ 
men, and 28,652 workmen. As remarked above, these figures include 
the employees in the various shops and mines, as well as in the 
strictly iron and steel departments. The total production of the 
works, exclusive of mining output, was, in 1848, 14,969 tons; in 1880, 
82,052 tons; and in 1907, 606,221 tons. In 1908 the Witkowitz rail¬ 
way, located wholly within the works, handled 4,568,000 tons of 
material. At the present day the consumption of water within these 
wmrks during a 24-hour period is equivalent to the total consumption 
by the city of Vienna. 

In the year 1908, 19,000 employees in the ironworks proper were 
paid in wages a total of 22,720,500 crowns (crown—$0,203). The 
average shaft wage is 4.34 crowns per day, or a rough average of 
1,267 crowns per year. The very lowest wage paid to any adult 
workrban is 2.60 crowns per day. In 1873 the Witkowitz Works suc¬ 
ceeded in amalgamating the mining holdings to the eastward and the 
ironworks interests in Witkowitz, and it was at this period that the 
Gebriider Gutmann interests were taken into the new organization. 
The present organization dates its name and being from the year 
1873. The works comprise coke furnaces both for the production of 
coke and for the extraction of residual products, blast furnaces, iron 

H. Doc. 913, 61-2-6 


82 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 


foundries, rolling mills, pipe-making shops, cast-steel works, forging 
mills, machine shops, shops for the construction of railway material, 
bridge construction and boiler-making shops, copper shops, and 
yards for brickkilns, and for the making of fireproof bricks. The 
central office is in Witkowitz, while the commercial direction is at 
No. 10 Fichtegasse, 1, Vienna. 

The rolling mills manufacture plates for shipbuilding, boilers, and 
tanks, rails, girders, structural iron, strips for tool making, wire rods, 
railway sweepers, and armor plates. This department is fitted with 
8 rolling trains, and the largest power engine develops 4,000 effective 
horsepower. To this rolling mill are added finishing workshops 
fitted with cold saws, shears, straightening machines, etc., and there 
is a roll-turning shop fitted with 23 roll-turning lathes. In a second 
rolling mill there is produced in 5 mills merchant iron strip for tool 
making, rolls for mines and small section, both of weld iron and 
mild steel. The refining of the material is effected in 10 revolving 
regenerative gas furnaces. 

ARMOR-MAKING DEPARTMENT. 

The Witkowitz Works are making all of the armor plates for the 
new ships of the Austro-Hungarian navy. This department pos¬ 
sesses a most thorough and up-to-date installation, and the heaviest 
armor plates demanded in service to-day are undertaken. The manu¬ 
facture of armor plates was taken up by the Witkowitz plant in 
1893, and in 1901 an 8,000-ton press was installed for this department. 
In 1906 a second forging press of 4,500 tons was put in. In this de¬ 
partment there are 7 furnaces especially designed for armor service. 
An elaborately constructed oil and water plate-spraying machine was 
also observed. There are three overhead traveling cranes, one of 50 
tons, one of 30 tons, and one of 25 tons. The majority of the machine- 
tools in this department are from the Vulkan Works, of Vienna. Some 
very heavy Vulkan slotters were working on armor-plate slotting. 
The planing work on these armor plates is being handled by worm- 
thread planers. Two very stout Vulkan machines, one fitted with 8 
and one fitted with 12 saws, were in service, sawing off side lappings 
of armor plates. Pneumatic tools of American make (Boyer) are 
utilized for scaling armor plates. 

It is in contemplation to erect a new armor plant, which will in¬ 
crease the annual output capacity to about 7,000 tons. The practice 
in the armor-plate department is to lay down a sectional side of a 
battle ship and to fit all plates to this model side before forwarding 
to the shipyards. In the shops was seen the model of one of the 
Archduke Frederick class of ships, to which armor plate is being 
fitted. 

At present about 1,000 tons of armor plate are being worked up in 
the shops. The heaviest armor plate under construction is of 300 
millimeters (11.811 inches) thickness. The Krupp system of armor 
plate is manufactured for both side and turret installations. Tha 
bending of armor plates is mainly effected through the medium of an 
8,000-ton press, the construction of the Andritz Works, near Graz. 

In the wings of the armor-plate department, and in addition to the 
cranes previously mentioned, are three 30-ton cranes. It is calcu¬ 
lated that in less than a year’s time the new additions to the armor- 



MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 83 

plate department will have been completed, and thus afford an output 
capacity double what is possible at present. The new shops are to be 
equipped with the most modern appliances, a fact which should not 
be overlooked by machine-tool manufacturers possessing machines 
especially adapted for armor-plate work. 

EQUIPMENT OF FORGE AND HAMMER DEPARTMENTS. 

Adjoining the armor-plate department are the forge and hammer 
departments. In the forge department it was noticed that all wagon 
axles are made from single ingots. In this department it is the prac¬ 
tice to use double-tier traveling cranes, the light ones being higher up. 
Lauch hammer transporters are used here for placing and taking 


Fig. 21.—Universal armor-plate planing, cross-planing, and slotting machine, Witkowitz Works. 

material from the ovens. The traveling cranes in service are all of 
German construction. In the forge department Martin steel is 
worked.up, and two cranes are employed of 80 tons’ capacity each. 
Single ingots are made up to 60 tons’ weight. As a rule, however, 
the pieces forged are 35 tons in weight. A Floridsdorf type of trans¬ 
porter in service for handling the ladle loads was also seen. 

A 4,500-ton Davy press is in service in this department. The over¬ 
heat from the furnaces is utilized for steam production, there being a 
boiler overhead at each furnace. The boilers have each 180 square 
meters of heating surface. 

In addition to the Davy press there is a 2,000-ton press from 
Tannett-Walker & Co., of Leeds, England; one steam hammer of 10 
tons, four steam hammers of 5 tons ? and one steam hammer of 2,200 
















84 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGAEY. 


kilos. There has recently been installed a new Davy press having a 
capacity of under 1,200 tons. From the Yulkan Works there is one 
press of a capacity of 1,200 kilos and also two presses of 1,700 and 
1,500 kilos, furnished, respectively, by Wittau and Pamming. There 
is also one 20-ton Weller hammer, and Breuer, Schumacher & Co., of 
Kalk, have supplied a press for forming wheels. The same firm has 
supplied a horizontal hydraulic press for service in forming rings 
of tires. 

In the forge department there is an average production per year 
of about 30,000 tires and the same number of railway carriage wheels. 
This, it is stated, is not the maximum capacity, but represents the 
number of tires which Witkowitz is handling. The railway wheels 
are being scaled with pneumatic tools. In ten hours’ time there are 
turned out on an average 140 complete wheels. The machines for 
this work were made at Witkowitz. Tires for railway wheels are 
made of. sizes varying from 300 millimeters interior diameter up to 
2,000 millimeters interior diameter. It is the practice at Witkowitz 
to use Martin open-hearth steel for railway carriage tires and for 
locomotive tires steel, mixed with a chrome nickel alloy. 

The number of men employed in the armor-plate department is 
170. In the forge department the number is 364. This latter figure 
includes the hammer shop and all of the men employed in the manu¬ 
facture of railway tires and wheels. 

MODERN MACHINE SHOPS TO REPLACE OLD ONES. 

There are complete machine shops adjacent to the armor-plate 
department and the forge and hammer shops, in which many heavy 
and rather old lathes were found in service. The majority of these 
tools seem to have been supplied by Yulkan, of Vienna, especially 
many planers and shapers that were noticed. Torpedo heads and tor¬ 
pedo tubes were seen under construction. Nickel steel is employed 
for these torpedoes, and the material was being turned down on 
Yulkan tools. There is an old Oerlikon double vertical miller in 
service here. The cutters in use are mostly of Witkowitz origin. 
Some very heavy railway frogs in course of building attracted atten¬ 
tion. The Witkowitz Works employ very hard steel for these frogs, 
having only 1 per cent of carbon. Bohler steel is also used for the 
cutting points of tools, especially for planer teeth. There were 
counted in service 13 planers of Yulkan make. This machine shop 
is to be entirely replaced by a new one. In the forge department 
there are 4 steam engines, 9 steam pumps and accumulators, and 1 
steam motor. Connected with the forge department are 14 annealing 
furnaces. 

The entire work in the armor-plate, forge, and hammer shops is 
as fine as can be found, in the opinion of the writer, on the Continent 
of Europe. The workmen engaged here seem thoroughly to under¬ 
stand their various lines, and on all sides there is apparent able direc¬ 
tion and a high grade of executive control. 

CHARACTER OF CAST-STEEL PRODUCTS. 

The cast-steel department covers an area of 110,000 square meters 
(square meter=10.764 square feet), of which 40,500 square meters 






MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 85 

are occupied by buildings and 09,500 square meters by storage sheds. 
The subdivisions of the cast-steel department comprise the crucible 
foundry, the steel-molding foundry, polishing shop, forge, tire-rolling 
mill, finishing shops, armor-plate works, ammunition works, pipe¬ 
molding works, sheet-iron press shops, boiler-plate press shops, and 
the department for administrative control. The proving grounds 
are also included in this general department. 

The Martin and crucible foundry contain seven Martin furnaces, 
five of a capacity of 20 tons and tw T o of a capacity of 30 tons, six 
crucible furnaces, and also several smelting and reserve furnaces. 
These furnaces are charged by mechanical power. This section is 
also equipped with crucible drying sheds for 40,000 crucibles, a 
hydraulic plant, having 5 steam pumps and accumulators for 
hydraulic pressure, hydraulic revolving cranes and elevators, and 
various steam engines, centrifugal pumps, and auxiliary machines. 

The products of the cast-steel department comprise section-steel 
castings, forgings for shipbuilding, open-hearth steel, crucible steel, 
and special steels for all kinds of axles and tires, locomotive steels, 
ingots for gun barrels, gun carriages and projectors, air chambers 
for torpedoes, and armor plates. 

Attention was called to many rifle gun tubes, turned out for the 
Skoda Works. The Witkowitz plant furnishes gun forgings, but the 
machining work in final assembling is largely intrusted to the 
Skoda Works. The Skoda Works are to Austria-Hungary what the 
Washington gun foundry and Watervliet works are to the United 
States, and Witkowitz does not attempt to finish up gun work as 
does Krupp. Noble & Lund, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, have supplied 
a heavy cold saw for this department. 

Witkowitz is making crank shafts for locomotives out of three 
separate pieces. This insures, it was said, liomogenity, the pieces 
being expanded to fit. It is a Witkowitz patent. 

In addition to the tools mentioned, there were observed heavy 
Vulkan radial drills, borers, and slotting machines. There is one 
heavy Schiess planer in service, and one Gisholt boring mill. Close 
to the Gisholt tool were four Vulkan boring mills. In a second 
finishing shop numerous torpedo flasks were under construction. 
Here, as in the shop visited just before, Schiess and Vulkan tools 
were seen. There is one heavy Schiess turning and boring mill here 
which is a little larger than the largest machine tool in the Skoda 
Works. There are also two Schiess rifling and boring tools here 
and one from Vulkan. 

VARIED PRODUCT OF THE BLAST FURNACES-GAS-DRIVEN ENGINES. 

The blast-furnace works at Witkowitz are properly divided into 
two groups, that at Witkowitz proper and a second group at Sofien- 
hutte. There is a total of 7 blast furnaces with 30 stoves, 8 blowing 
engines driven by steam, and 3 blowing engines driven by gas motors. 
These blast furnaces are devoted to the production of pig iron for 
puddling, of steel for the foundry, hematite, Bessemer, phosphoric 
pig iron, iron, hard castings, ferromanganese, ferrosilicon, and sili¬ 
con spiegel. The smelted spathic iron ore and brown iron stone are 
obtained from Upper Hungary; Swedish magnetite and apatite, 


86 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 


lixiviated copper pyrites, slags, manganese ores from Bosnia, Buko- 
wina, Hungary, and other countries. In the Sofienhutte group there 
are three blast furnaces with capacities, respectively, of 260, 200, and 
120 tons, or a total of 580 tons per day. 

The gas derived from these blast furnaces is utilized for a power 
drive at a central station close by. In this central station there are 
two steam engines of 1,400 and 800 horsepower, respectively, and two 
gas engines of 1,200 horsepower each, making a total power available 
of 4,600 horsepower. The writer has had occasion to observe the 
running of many gas engines on the Continent of Europe, but nowhere 
has he seen, with the possible exception of Kesicza, such excellent 
gas-engine work as at Witkowitz. Not only at the Sofienhutte sta¬ 
tion, but at a second station at Witkowitz proper, every opportunity 
was afforded to note the gas-engine service. Witkowitz builds gas 
engines only for its ow T n use, and its gas engines are to-day being 
run by men familiar with every essential of their construction. 
This necessarily has much to do with their success. However, the 
writer is inclined to think that for large power gas engines it would 
be difficult to find in all Europe better engines than those which are 
made at Witkowitz. These engines run with all the smoothness and 
quietude of a beautifully adjusted steam engine. A 1,200-kilowatt 
1,600-horsepower engine was seen at work in the new station running 
as smoothly as any steam engine. This was a double-acting tandem 
unit. These Witkowitz engines are of the Otto system, built under 
Witkowitz modifications. The engine referred to bore the numbers 
33/34. This engine is working parallel with a turbine system 
(Curtiss) in the central station. 

As an illustration of how effective these Witkowitz gas engines 
are, it is stated that 99 per cent of the working time is taken up by 
them; in other words, the engines are running practically contin¬ 
uously, since the work at Witkowitz is carried on night and day. 
Such slowing dowm as is necessary for the gas engines does not ex¬ 
ceed 1 per cent of the entire period. This statement was made by 
the chief engineer himself. When the chief engineer was asked 
why they w T ere not making gas engines for others, he replied that 
they had no time at present for outside orders. 

At Witkowitz proper there are 4 blast furnaces, 2 having a 
capacity of 250 tons each, and 2 of from 150 to 200 tons each. 

MANIPULATION OF GAS FOR USE IN ENGINES. 

At the Sofienhutte station the power derived from the combined 
steam engine and gas engine installation is utilized for operating 
blowing engines at this point. A new building is now going up 
alongside the present station, in which gas engines now building at 
Witkowitz will be installed. This new station will be furnished 
with from 15,000 to 20,000 horsepower, and the power will be used 
both for blowing engines and for electric-current development. At 
the Sofienhutte station the gas for the blast furnaces is passed into 
a washer of a Witkowitz design, comprising fans. Here it is 
roughly cleaned. The gas next passes into a second washer, also of 
the same Witkowitz design, where it is further washed, and thence 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 


87 


through a larger system of fans. These fans are all of the same 
Witkowitz type. The gas is then dried in a dryer. This is effected 
by giving the gas a slow velocity and thus enabling the washer to 
drop. From the first dryer the gas passes to the second dryer, and 
from the second dryer it passes direct to the engine. When there 
is too much gas available the overflow goes into the air. 

The three furnaces at Sofienhutte have also supplied sufficient gas, 
but in case there should be an insufficient quantity from one or two 
furnaces, the gas from a third furnace is cut upder. As a matter of 
fact, two furnaces have been found sufficient to supply all gas re¬ 
quired. The 260-ton blast furnace at Sofienhutte has been in service 
only since April, 1909. 

Close to Sofienhutte is a coke station known as “ Ivoksanstalt Karo- 
linenzchacht.” The production of coke here is 1,100 tons per day. In 
addition, there are two other coke-oven plants, comprising in all 335 
ovens. A day period must be understood as comprising 24 hours’ 
service. 

AMERICAN METHODS IN MACHINERY DEPARTMENT. 

Naturally, at a great establishment such as the Witkowitz, the 
machinery department proper is one of the most important in the 
make-up of the plant. The chief engineer of the machinery depart¬ 
ment is Mr. William Leicht, a man of broad engineering experience 
and of keen knowledge regarding the merits of machine-shop equip¬ 
ment. The remarkable success of the Witkowitz gas engines is 
largely due, the writer is inclined to believe, to the superb engineer¬ 
ing work evident on these machines, and for this result Chief Engi¬ 
neer Leicht is directly responsible. This gentleman afforded the 
writer every facility in connection with his inspection of the machin¬ 
ery works and discussed with him with the utmost frankness the 
general situation with reference to the machine tools, both American 
and European. He is an enthusiastic admirer of American methods, 
having visited the United States shortly before the opening of the 
St. Louis Exposition and traveled continuously for a period of about 
five weeks. He visited many plants, but did not hesitate to say that 
in his opinion the Allis-Chalmers Works at Milwaukee were the best, 
taking all facts into consideration which he had visited. In going 
over the machinery department wuth Chief Engineer Leicht unmis¬ 
takable American features were noticed in shop arrangement and 
methods of handling material. In nearly every instance Mr. Leicht 
stated that he owed the suggestion to what he had seen in America. 

In the machinery department two pneumatic hoists are used. The 
writer has visited several hundreds of the leading and most impor¬ 
tant machinery works in Europe, but this is the first instance in which 
he has found pneumatic hoists of the type so familiar in many shops 
in America. Mr. Leicht said that he borrowed the idea from the 
United States and constructed the hoists in his own shops. In one 
great establishment in Germany some years ago car wheels were 
rolled up on railway trucks by hand. At Witkowitz they have learned 
to do work of this sort with the pneumatic hoists. 

In all 2,100 men are at present employed in the machinery depart¬ 
ment. Good mechanics are receiving from 7 to 10 crowns per day. 


88 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 


CHARACTER OF MACHINE TOOLS. 


The Witkowitz machinery department has in service probably the 
largest combined horizontal boring and turning mill in Austria. 
This machine was built by Collett & Engelhard, of Offenbach. 
The machine is 20 meters long and 8 meters broad. It would appear 
that the machines of this firm are in much favor in Continental shops. 
This tool was purchased about three years ago and is utilized to bore 
the cylinders and trim the edges of the heavy Witkowitz gas engines. 

One of the first American machines noticed was a Gisholt boring 
mill working up car wheels. Close alongside of it was a Breuer, 
Schumacher & Co. newly designed machine for the same purpose. 
Bickford radial drills and also vertical drills from Ludwig Loewe 
were in service. 



Fig. 22.— Universal radial boring, drilling, tapping, and screwing machine, Witkowitz Works. 


In the machine-tool department is a complete overhead trolley 
system, making it possible to swing work over the middle of every 
tool in the shop. The material can be run by trolley from any one 
tool to any part of the shop. Two large Lodge & Shipley 24-inch 
engine lathes are in use. Mr. Leicht said that he was well satisfied 
with these machines. He also referred to the Gleason gear planers 
as excellent tools. 

Jigs were being used in connection with the Collett & Engelhard 
tool in boring work on gas-engine castings. As a rule jigs are not 
utilized to the same extent in European shops as in American. The 
fact has repeatedly been mentioned in other reports that Conti¬ 
nental shops do not, as a rule, specialize to the same extent as Ameri¬ 
can establishments, and therefore the value of jigs is not so ap¬ 
parent as in home works. 











MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 89 

The following are among the American machine tools in service 
in the Witkowitz machinery department, the names of the makers 
by whom supplied and the type of tool being indicated: 


Jones & Lamson Machine Company, Springfield, Yt_Turret lathes. 

Becker-Brainard Milling Machine Company, Hyde Park, 

Mass., by Schuchardt & Schiitte, Vienna_4 vertical millers. 

Brown & Sharpe Manufacturing Company, Providence, 

It. I., by Otto Diechmann, Berlin_Grinder. 

Gleason Tool Company, Rochester, N. Y., by Schuchardt 
& Schiitte, Vienna-Gear planer. 

Landis Tool Company, Waynesboro, Pa., by Schuchardt & 

Schiitte, Vienna-Universal grinder. 

Colburn Machine Tool Company, Franklin, Pa., by L. 

Loewe & Co., Berlin--- 3 vertical boring and 

turning mills. 

Bickford Drill and Tool Company, Cincinnati, by Schuch¬ 
ardt & Schiitte, Vienna_Radial drill. 

Cincinnati Milling Machine Company, Cincinnati, by 

Schuchardt & Schiitte, Vienna__ Universal milling 

machine. 

G. A. Gray Company, Cincinnati, by Schuchardt & Schiitte, 

Vienna-2 planers. 

Lodge & Shipley Maliine Tool Company, Cincinnati, by 

Schuchardt & Schiitte, Vienna_3 engine lathes. 

Cincinnati Planer Company, Cincinnati, by Schuchardt & 

Schiitte, Vienna-2 shaping machines. 

Cincinnati Planer Company, Cincinnati, by L. Loewe & 

Co., Berlin-Planer. 

Acme Machinery Company, Cleveland, by Schuchardt & 

Schiitte, Vienna-3 screw cutters. 

Baker Brothers, Toledo, by Schuchardt & Schiitte, Vienna- 5 high-speed drills. 

Mills & Merill, Saginaw, Mich., by Heinrich, Dreyer, Berlin.. “ Giant ” type ma¬ 
chine. 

Gisholt Machine Company, Madison, Wis., by Schuchardt 

& Schiitte, Vienna_!__Turret lathe and 2 

vertical lathes. 


FOREIGN TOOLS MAINLY GERMAN OR AUSTRIAN MAKES. 

The Continental tools in service in the Witkowitz Works com¬ 
prise many machines from Germany and from the Vulkan Works 
in Vienna. There are a number of English tools and an occasional 
French machine, but all recent purchases are confined, as a rule, to 
American tools and tools from Vulkan and important leading Ger¬ 
man works. Collett & Engelhard, of Offenbach; Reinecker, of 
Chemnitz; Ludwig Loewe, of Berlin; and Hartmann, of Chemnitz, 
are largely represented in this department. There is one Hartmann 
vertical miller in service cutting heavy gears, and Mr. Leicht says 
that this is the only machine of which he has knowledge w T hich 
affords a good form to gear teeth. This statement should be taken 
notice of by American manufacturers of machines adapted to this 
sort of work. It might be stated, parenthetically, that the writer 
knows of no works in all Europe more ready to Mopt high-grade 
machines than the Witkowitz plant. American manufacturers pos¬ 
sessing meritorious machine tools will do well to call the attention 
of this firm to such machines. It may be set down as a fact that the 
Witkowitz shops are in the market at all times for the highest grades 
of machines obtainable, regardless of price. 

The illustrations accompanying this article are explained as fol¬ 
lows: The universal armor-plate planing, cross-planing, and slotting 

















90 MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 

machine which is shown was built by the Vulkan Works in Vienna 
and is installed at the Witkowitz Works in Moravia, Austria. It is 
fitted with electro-magnetic Vulkan clutches, operated by 50-horse¬ 
power motors. 

There is also shown a motor-driven, universal radial boring, drill¬ 
ing, tapping, and screwing machine in use in the armor-plate de¬ 
partment at the Witkowitz Works. The spindle of this machine is 
140 millimeters (5^ inches), the travel is 800 millimeters (32 inches), 
and the radius 3,500 millimeters (11-J feet). The motor for driving 
it possesses 15 horsepower. The machine was built by the Vulkan 
Works in Vienna. 

A heavy duplex boring and turning lathe, built by the Vulkan 
Works, Vienna, and installed at the Witkowitz Works, is also illus¬ 
trated. This machine is driven by a submerged motor, countershaft 
with electric clutches. These clutches can be controlled by small 


Fig. 23.—Heavy duplex boring and turning lathe, Witkowitz Works. 

switches on either side of the carriage for stopping, starting, or 
reversing of the hand spindle, and for slow motion and rapid trans¬ 
port of the carriage. 

The total number of machine tools in the Witkowitz machinery 
plant is approximately 520. The machine shop makes its own gages 
and cutters, and also makes many tools of special character. There 
are a number of special tools in use at the Witkowitz machine shops 
of a particularly meritorious nature, but at the request of the chief 
engineer mention is not made of these. 

There are now four gas engines, each of 1,500 horsepower, under 
construction in the machinery department. 

TUBE-MAKING PLANT AND ITS PRODUCT. 

In the various observations on the Witkowitz plant no attempt 
has been made to make notes on all branches, but there is one depart- 




MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 91 

ment which should be mentioned at all events, and this is the tube¬ 
making shop. In this branch of the establishment there are fully 
1,000 men employed. In going over the tube shops the escort was 
Mr. Karl Wojtechowsky, assistant engineer, who was for 7 years 
in the United States and saw service as master mechanic at the 
National Tube Works and at Pittsburg. 

In this tube-making department the methods are naturally in 
accordance with European requirements—that is to say, there is not 
that recourse to specialties as in the United States, for here at Wit¬ 
kowitz a great variety of work is undertaken. The one feature which 
impressed the writer was the methods in vogue for lap and seam 
welding. He remembers seeing some very fine work in this line at 
the Continental Iron Works, in Brooklyn, N. Y., but so far, in 
Europe, he has seen nothing better than the work carried on in this 
line at Witkowitz. The apparatus used for lap and seam welding 
comes from Augsburg-Nuremburg, but is modified in parts. 

Witkowitz is using a water-gas system, the design of Dellwick- 
Fleischer, of Frankfort. Attention was called to some specially 
fine seam-welding work on a steam collector bed such as is superim¬ 
posed on the box of tubular boilers. The workmanship was of a 
very superior character. In tube making the Witkowitz Works, out 
of 100 pounds of material, manage to make 95 pounds of tubes. The 
recourse of water-gas heating makes it possible to employ much 
thinner plates. If these tubes were run in furnaces heavier metal 
would be necessary to obviate collapsing. 

The wages paid in the machinery department are, as a rule, 7 crowns 
per day. Furnace men receive from 5 to 7 crowns per day, although 
specially skilled men are paid as high as 12 or even 15 crowns per day. 

BENEVOLENT FEATURES AT WITKOWITZ. 

Witkowitz does much for the welfare of its employees. There are 
benevolent institutions comprising a pension institute for the staff 
and for the employees. There are stipends for the sons of mem¬ 
bers of the staff, foremen, and men, and scholarships are granted to 
the staff and supervisors located at the mines. There is a sick fund, 
and it is possible for children of workmen who are disabled to claim 
contributions for their education, and the money paid in by parents 
to the sick fund, in the event of death of the parents, is repaid to the 
children. At the end of the year 1906 the total sick fund amounted 
to 10,800,500 crowns. From a fund of 300,000 crowns the interest 
is utilized for workmen who have done long and good service and 
have become incapacitated for further work. From another fund of 
300,000 crowns the interest goes toward the support of the families of 
those married men or widowers who are summoned for military serv¬ 
ice and who have been in the employment of the company for at least 
three years. 

The directors also make monthly allowances to men who have 
served for 40 years, and in addition to the sick fund there is a gen¬ 
eral accident insurance association. A gewerkschaft alone bears the 
expense of these two institutions, and in the year 1907 the works paid 
out on this score the sum of 1,079,106 crowns. 

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Emperor Franz 
Josef the Witkowitz Works built an orphanage for 50 boys and 50 
girls, at an expenditure of 154,000 crowns. The cost of maintenance 


92 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 


of this orphanage, which amounts to about 42,000 crowns, is met by 
the interest from two divisions made by the works, amounting to 
920,000 crowns. The buildings were extended in the year 1905, so 
that at the present time 50 boys and 75 girls can be accommodated in 
the orphanage. 

There is a hospital with 3 pavilions, 15 wards, and altogether 130 
beds. There are separate waiting rooms and consultation rooms for 
outdoor patients, adapted to the different nature of the cases. There 
is one hospital for infectious diseases, with 4 wards and 26 beds, and 
one home for convalescents, wdth 26 beds. 

The medical staff comprises 1 physician in chief, 5 physicians in 
ordinary, 2 specialists, and 7 district physicians. There are also 4 
clerks, 20 sisters, 7 attendants, 6 nurses, 3 porters, and 1 house master. 

SCHOOLS AND HOUSING FOR EMPLOYEES AND FAMILIES. 

The schools maintained at Witkowitz comprise 1 German boys’ 
school and 1 German girls’ middle-class school, 3 German boys’ board 
schools and 2 German girls’ board schools, with a staff of 35 male and 
34 female teachers for 1,698 boys and 1,627 girls. There is also 1 
Bohemian girls’ school and 1 Bohemian boys’ school, both of which 
are upper schools, having 13 teachers for 580 children. 

There are also 10 kindergarten schools, with 28 teachers for 950 
children. In addition to the foregoing there is a German industrial 
training school for the education of supervisors, with 5 teachers for 
70 pupils, and a general industrial training school for apprentices, 
with 15 male teachers and 595 pupils. 

The members of the Witkowitz staff, the foremen and workmen 
employed in the works, are domiciled in 229 buildings with 347 flats. 
These domiciles are for members of the staff and teachers. In addi¬ 
tion, there are 1,191 family dwellings for married men, 6,129 apart¬ 
ments in 34 barracks for single men and for those married men who 
do not live at the works. There are also 88 quarterings and 44 rooms 
for men who wish to live singly or two together. 

A home is maintained for little children, a supply association, sev¬ 
eral baths, steam laundry electrically driven, stores, 5 soup kitchens, 
and a hospital for the works. In the year 1907 the consumption of 
the soup kitchens was as follows: 277,605 kilos of meat, 35,907 kilos of 
sausage, 705,006 pairs of small sausages, 45,194 liver sausages, 7,639 
liters of beer, 4,230 gallons of wine, 293,868 bottles of soda water 
and lemonade, 106,000 gallons of coffee, 1,760 gallons of tea extract, 
216,600 loaves of brown bread, and 418,990 loaves of white bread. 

On the estates owned by the Witkowitz Works 242 acres of land 
are let to men at low rent. Board and lodging are provided by the 
company at a cheap rate—practically at cost price. Lodgings for 
single men cost 2.40 crowns per month; breakfast (coffee) costs 6 
hellers (100 hellers=l crown), dinner 24 to 30 hellers, supper 12 to 
15 hellers, or a total cost per day of from 42 to 51 hellers. No less 
than 20,000 meals are served daily in the soup kitchens. Married 
men are able to rent apartments at from 3 to 14 crowns per month, or 
18 crowms for larger dwellings. 

Witkowitz is reached direct from Vienna and from Breslau. Leav¬ 
ing Breslau at 6 a. m. one arrives at Schonbrunn at about 10.40 a. m., 
whence a carriage or a tram car takes one to Witkowitz, the distance 
being about three miles. 


DENMARK. 

INTRODUCTION. 

Denmark is generally regarded as an agricultural country, and this 
is, in the main, correct. The total population, according to recent 
statistics, is 2,005,268, or less than Greater New York, London, or 
Paris. Yet the individuality of the Danes is so marked and charac¬ 
teristic that the people have retained intact a distinct language. The 
agricultural products of Denmark find a ready outlet, and fast freight 
boats built especially for this service are utilized in reaching the 
English market. The general tariff on ordinary imports is not great. 

Such manufacturing work as is carried on in Denmark is largely 
confined to the vicinity of Copenhagen, the capital. A notable ex¬ 
ception is the Scandia Works, located in Handers (Jylland). This 
plant is engaged largely in the manufacture of tramway cars and 
railway material. 

Probably the most important single manufacturing concern in 
Denmark is Burmeister & Wain. This firm does a general ship and 
engine building business. It is regarded somewhat as a national 
concern, rather than an individual enterprise. The only machine-tool 
building plant in Denmark of importance is the firm of Nielsen & 
Winther, and that establishment has already made a good beginning 
in the Continental export trade. Other prominent firms include 
the Atlas Works, the Titan Works, the Danish Rifle Works, the Gov¬ 
ernment establishment known as Gevaerfabriken, and the Haerens 
Laboratorium. 

All of these w T orks are located in Copenhagen and are users of 
modern machine tools. Still other Danish firms which have been 
purchasers of American machine tools include: 

Maskinfabriken, Akt., Copenhagen; Nordisk Cyclefabrik, Copen¬ 
hagen; Copenhagen Cyclefabrik; The Copenhagen Cyclepumpe- 
fabrik, Soeminekorpset, Copenhagen; J. G. A. Eickhoff, Copenhagen; 
Tuxen & Hammerich, Copenhagen; J. G. Thygesen & Soen, Aarhus; 
Det Kgl. Danske Orlogsvaerft, Copenhagen; De Danske Statsbaner, 
Copenhagen; Thomas B. Thrige, Odense, Akt. Pasteur, Randers. 

The writer has visited several important Danish works. Time did 
not permit a visit to all the plants here enumerated, but a sufficient 
number has been inspected to make it possible to reach a fair con¬ 
clusion regarding the elements controlling the purchase and use of 
machine tools. Broadly speaking, the American competition in Den¬ 
mark is largely with German firms. A few Swedish tools are found 
and an occasional English tool. The firm of Alfred Herbert 
(Limited), of Coventry, England, has placed a fair number of late 
type machines in this territory, but the majority of the English tools 
in use were purchased many years ago, and at a period antedating 
the development of American and German machine tools. The ques¬ 
tion of price is largely a controlling factor with Danish buyers, but 
the presence of numerous high-grade American tools would seem to 
indicate, on the other hand, that with the most progressive shops the 
question of price is not the first consideration. Messrs. W. Loewener 
& Co., of Copenhagen, have placed numerous American tools in 
Danish shops. 


93 


94 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN DENMARK. 


I feel justified in saying that there is a strong pro-American 
sentiment in Denmark, and this sentiment should not be ignored by 
American manufacturers. There is a direct line of steamers, the 
Scandinavian and American line, plying between New York and 
Copenhagen, and at Copenhagen a portion of the city fronting the 
water is set apart and is known as a free port. Storage and ware¬ 
house facilities can be secured here. The advantage of the free 
port is the increased facilities it affords in making shipments to all 
Scandinavian points. 

TITAN WORKS. 

The Titan Works, of Copenhagen, are a representative Danish ma¬ 
chinery building plant. The full name and address of this establish¬ 
ment is Koefoed, Hauberg, Marstrand & Helweg, Aktieselskabet 
Titan, Tagensvej 32, Copenhagen. The directors are Messrs. R. 
Helweg, G. Garde, and S. C. Hauberg, who afforded the writer every 
facility in making an inspection of the shops, which are located 
within the city proper. About 450 workmen, besides the officials, 
were employed at the time of the inspection, September IT, 1909. 

The company is a limited one and is the outcome of the union 
of two Danish plants known as Koefoed & Hauberg and Mar- 
strand, Helweg & Co. A consolidation of these two Danish firms 
was effected in 1897. It was said that business was not as active in 
the fall of 1909 as in 1908, but the works seemed to be fairly busy. 
During 1908 night work was carried on to a considerable extent, but 
orders in hand are now fully taken care of by day work. 

The output of the establishment comprises for the most part electro¬ 
motors, dynamos, cranes, elevators and elevator apparatus, and a 
general line of the apparatus necessary for power installation and the 
handling of transporters and conveying machinery. In other words, 
the Titan Works may be referred to as the “Brown Hoist” of Den¬ 
mark. This firm has been called upon to make many important 
installations throughout Scandinavia, and the great majority of the 
conveying systems at Copenhagen are its work. The mechanism for 
handling one of the fine swinging bridges at Copenhagen comes from 
this establishment. It also has works for mill separators, and exports 
much of this product. 

ELEVATOR OUTPUT-THE TITAN APPLIANCES. 

Probably the largest line of outputs is elevators for general stores 
and private dwellings. There is much recourse to elevators in private 
houses in modern Continental construction, and firms like this have, 
during the past few years, taken advantage of the heavy demands in 
this direction. The elevators installed in private buildings are usually 
of an automatic character, and the Titan engineers lay especial stress 
upon the safety device which they have inaugurated. Before the 
organization of the Titan Works proper one of the constituent firms 
engaged for a period of 20 years in the building of elevators. 

Electricity is the motive power utilized, and it is so arranged that 
the elevators can connect with the electric power generally available 
in modern cities. The Titan elevator has the push-button system, 
where no attendant is needed. Electrical apparatus used in this 
service is mounted on the same bedplate as the lifting gear, and 
there is no apparatus in the lift well, it is declared, requiring at- 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN DENMARK. 


95 


tention. The safety appliances will not permit the elevator be¬ 
ing operated in case any landing door is open. A powerful brake 
is attached to the motor shaft and is connected with the starting 
mechanism in such a manner that it stands clear while the motor 
circuit is closed, but is immediately applied when the current is 
interrupted. A special circuit breaker is also attached to the gear 
which comes into operation whenever the descending cage is stopped 
by some hindrance or other, causing the carrying wire ropes to be 
slackened, also when the speed of the ascending or the descending 
cage goes beyond a certain limit, in which event a speed governor 
acts upon the circuit breaker. In case the cage passes its highest 
or lowest point the circuit breaker will function. Should the wire 
ropes of the cage brjeak, provision is made to clamp automatically 
the cage fast to the guides. The electric safety lock is connected in 
such a manner with the operating mechanism that only the door 
before the cage at the time can be opened. The cage automatically 
releases a mechanical lock on reaching the landing place. 

MACHINE-TOOL INSTALLATION. 

The installation of the Titan Works comprises machine tools of 
Danish, American, German, English, and Swedish origin. Probably 
the greatest number of tools are from the Danish machine-tool 
works known as Nielsen & Winther. German machine tools are 
much in evidence, and it was stated that the question of price was 
largely a controlling element. 

With reference to the American machine tools employed, the state¬ 
ment was made by Mr. E. Hansen that the tools were in general very 
much liked and that no fault could be found except on the subject 
of price. The duty on foreign tools entering Denmark, he stated, 
is 5 per cent. Among the machine tools in service the following were 
observed, the prices paid for some of them being also indicated: 


Name of maker, and type and dimensions. 

When 

pur¬ 

chased. 

Price de¬ 
livered 
in Copen¬ 
hagen. 

. AMERICAN TOOLS. 

J. E. Snyder & Co., Worcester, Mass.: 

Heavy vertie.a.l drills..._ _.... 



One 25-inch vertical drill..... 

1908 

$296 

Fifield Tool Co., Lowell, Mass.: 

Heavy lathes ... 

Brown & Sharpe Manufacturing Co., Providence, R. I.: 

One No 2 and two No 3 universal millers; one No. 3 key way cutter. 



One No 3 vertical milling machine.... . 

1900 

984 

Potter & Johnston Machine Co., Pawtucket, R. I.: 

phnpprs ............. 

One 24-inch shaper. 

1900 

1900 

536 

643 

Blake & Johnson, Waterbury, Conn.: 

Onp Nr» 3 kevwav putter ....__...........___............... 

Niles Tool Works, Hamilton, Ohio: 

Tien w dmihle horinc mills ............. 

One 10-foot boring and turning mill. 

1900 

1900 

1907 

1907 

1908 
1900 

4,650 

1,876 

590 

724 

1,822 

1,311 

Cincinnati Planer Co., Cincinnati: 

One planer 36 x 36 inches x 12feet...... 

FOREIGN TOOLS. 

Nielsen & Winther, Copenhagen: 

One lathe A M 2 2 000 mm loner 1 weieht. 1 000 ke. 

One lathe A M 3 2 450 mm lone" weieht 1.300 ke. 

Deutsche-Niles Werke, Oberschoneweide, near Berlin, Germany: 

On a donhlA hori n p - vn ill f p ctnrv Ttlftrks G R R 1 000 .. 

On p vprtipfl 1 Qlntfpr R50 mm _ ____ 

























96 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN DENMARK. 


Among the foreign tools in service are also the following: 

Taylor Challen (Limited), Birmingham, stamp machine; Sponholz & Wre&e, 
Berlin, stamp machines; Maschinenfabrik Oerlikon, Zurich, rifling machine for 
mill rollers; Nielsen & Winther, Copenhagen, heavy radial drill (length of arm 
meters), planers, lathes, turret lathes, slotters, vertical drill; Deutsche- 
Niles Werke, Oberschoneweide, near Berlin, radial drill, double boring mill, 
slotters; Breuer, Schumacher & Co., Kalk, near Cologne, radial drill, heavy lathe, 
slotters; W. S. Wilkinson, Leeds, planers; Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik, Leipzig- 
Pleynitz, gear cutters. 

The Skoda Works, of Pilsen, Bohemia, supply many large gears 
which are used. The Titan Works do not undertake to cut any but 
rather small gears. The Gisholt turret lathe, it was noticed, is em¬ 
ployed on pulley coupling work; a similar use of the Gisholt was 
found in the Brown, Boveri & Co. works, of Baden, Switzerland, 
where a reduction in price was effected by using these machines on 
this character of work. 

GERMAN TOOLS IMPORTED. 

The majority of the foreign tools used are of German origin, and 
it was explained by Mr. Hansen that the German tools were pur¬ 
chased mainly because of cheapness. The Deutsche-Niles Werke, for 
example, he said, are making not only an excellent tool but one that 
is cheap. 

The total imports of German machine tools into Denmark for the 
years 1907 and 1908 were, respectively, 794,400 kilos and 950,800 
kilos (1 kilo=2.2 pounds). These figures must not be understood 
as including forge or smithy equipment, inasmuch as the German 
imperial office undertakes to list separately the imports and exports 
of the latter. The German exports of machine tools are embraced 
under the heading, “ Maschinen zur Bearbeiten von Metallen.” The 
German official statistics available for 1908 do not show any imports 
into Germany of machine tools from Denmark. 

WAGES AND WORKMEN. 

Practically all labor in the Titan shops is paid for on a piecework 
schedule. Foundrymen receive on an average from 5 to 6 crowns 
($1.34 to $1.61) per day. In the machinery department a good hand 
at the lathe wdll also average the same wages on the piecework sys¬ 
tem. The maximum in this department is 7 crowns ($1.88) per day. 
The wages paid to apprentices are 3.50 to 4 crowns ($0.95 to $1.07) 
per day. The day’s work commences at 6 a. m. and ends at 5 p. m. 
in winter and 6 p. m. in summer. At 8 o’clock in the morning there 
is a stoppage until 8.30 for breakfast. Work then continues until 
1.30 p. m. The afternoon period commences at 2 p. m. 

The character of the work turned out by this plant is exceptionally 
good, and the establishment may be regarded as thoroughly repre¬ 
sentative of Danish industrial undertakings. The general intelli¬ 
gence of the workmen forcibly impresses one, and it was apparent 
that there was excellent direction and control. 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN DENMARK. 


97 


BURMEISTER & WAIN. 

Burmeister & Wain, of Copenhagen, form one of the prominent 
Scandinavian ship and engine building plants. In Denmark this 
establishment is regarded as typifying Danish engineering capacity, 
and it is not too much to say that a national pride exists with refer¬ 
ence to the firm’s undertakings. 

In September, 1909, the number of men employed approximated 
2,000; when business is good this force is as great as 3,000. The 
works were founded in 1846 by Carl Christian Burmeister, who 
formed a partnership with H. H. Baumgarten. In the begin¬ 
ning the firm was known as Baumgarten & Burmeister. In 1861 
Mr. Baumgarten retired. In 1865 Mr. W. Wain, an Englishman, 
became associated with the original founder, and from that day the 
works have been known under the present name. Later it was 
found necessary to form a joint-stock company because of the rapid 
development of the business. Mr. Wain’s death occurred in 1882, 
and in 1891 Mr. Burmeister retired, but continued his connection 
with the board of directors. 

A STOCK COMPANY—CAPITAL EMPLOYED-PRODUCTS. 

Burmeister & Wain became a stock company in 1872. The capital 
of the company at present amounts to 10,000,000 crowns (1 crown= 
26.8 cents). 

The engine works are located in the city of Copenhagen proper 
and have water frontage. The shipyards are on Ref shale Island, 
facing the harbor, and comprise four building slips, three large pat 
ent repairing slips, and a dry dock measuring 470 by 76 by 24 feet. 
This is said to be the largest dry dock in Scandinavia. There is also 
a floating dock having a lifting capacity of 11,000 tons. 

Ordinarily there is a turnover in business annually of about 
14,000,000 crowns ($3,752,000). This assumes normal conditions. 
Up to the present date the number of ships built by this concern 
is 273. The vessels comprise freight and passenger steamers, fast 
mail steamers, ice breakers, cruisers, gun vessels, yachts, steam and 
sailing vessels, and seagoing lighters. The Russian imperial yacht 
Standart was built here in 1896. 

The engine works proper are located in that part of Copenhagen 
known as Christianhave. Directors Martin Dessau and Ivar Knud- 
sen were kind enough to receive the writer and afford him every 
facility in making a complete inspection of the plant. He was per¬ 
sonally escorted by Mr. Otto Prollius, shop manager for the separator 
department. The last-named gentleman has seen considerable serv¬ 
ice in the United States, and has had a wide experience with various 
types of American machine tools. 

The shops were found to be highly modern in character, and, 
judging from general appearances, were fairly busy. This firm 
makes a specialty of forgings. Denmark does not possess iron or 
coal mines. All coal is imported and comes, for the most part, from 
England. Coal exists in Sweden in sufficient quantities to supply the 
railways and to afford a reserve supply for the navy in case of war, 
but there is practically no export of Swedish coal to Denmark. 

H. Doc. 913, 61-2-7 


98 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN DENMARK. 


Burmeister & Wain, in common with other Danish firms, are com¬ 
pelled to import pig iron, and these imports are generally from 
England and Germany. Freight rates from Germany are from $3 
to $4 per ton. This makes it difficult to export from Denmark to 
Germany, inasmuch as freight on material would have to be paid two 
ways. In producing forgings, however, the company is able to util¬ 
ize a little more than 80 per cent of Danish scrap, leaving less than 
20 per cent of material to come from foreign sources. 

Forgings can be exported to advantage, and it is stated that 
numerous steel forgings are exported to the United Kingdom. For 
instance, the firm does an equally good business in finished crank 
shafts and in rough forgings, but it pays, it has been found, to finish 
the forgings before shipment from Copenhagen. 

In the forge department hammers were observed from B. & S. 
Massey, Manchester; from the Rigby Steam Hammer Company, 
of Glasgow; and from Breuer, Schumacher & Co., of Kalk, near 
Cologne. The hammer installation comprises one of 50 tons, one of 
200 tons, and one of 400 tons, besides several smaller ones. In addi¬ 
tion, there are three forging presses—one of 500 tons, one of 1,000 
tons, and one of 2,000 tons. 

FOUNDRY DEPARTMENT. 

The foundry department, which joins the forge shops closely, is 
fitted with two traveling cranes, supplied by the Morgan Engineer¬ 
ing Company, of Cleveland. The number 1208 was seen on one of 
these cranes. The molding machines in use have been supplied mostly 
by Bopp & Reuther, of Mannheim. These molding machines are 
largely used on the castings necessary for the cream separators, and 
on small fittings work. The finishing-off' work in the molding de¬ 
partment is by means of pneumatic tools. 

The principal output of the Burmeister & Wain plant comprises 
steam engines of all sizes and descriptions, waterworks systems, boil¬ 
ers for land purposes, cream separators, beer separators, tar sepa¬ 
rators, yeast-making apparatus, Diesel motors, ice-making machines, 
refrigerating plants, and bridges. This firm has built and shipped 
steam engines for power installations to such points as Bahia, St. 
Petersburg, Baku, Malaga, and Bangkok. 

The manufacture of Diesel motors is one of the best undertakings 
of the firm at present. There is a general demand throughout Den¬ 
mark for these small Diesel engines, and practically every small 
Danish village, it is said, is putting in a system of this character. 
The use of electric light is becoming very common, and the country 
Danes are now accustomed to use electric light in the stables and 
cow sheds. The Copenhagen firm is turning out these Diesel motors 
at a rapid rate, and the design is said to give general satisfaction 
throughout Denmark. The statement was made at the works that 
there had not been a single instance of breakdown reported from one 
of Burmeister & Wain’s Diesel motors. 

During the inspection a marine engine was being assembled. This 
was a vertical triple-expansion engine, designed "for a fast freight 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN DENMARK. 


99 


boat to run between Denmark and England. Scotch boilers were 
being put in. The valve gear on this engine bears the firm’s name. 
Close beside this marine engine a Diesel motor engine was under test, 
and it was evident that the greatest care is exercised in adjusting 
these machines before they are sent out of the shops. The Danish 
orders for Diesel motors are just now exceptionally good. The Diesel 
engine is declared to be very economical. 

The work in the boiler shops impressed the writer. In the course 
of many inspections in Europe, such high-grade work as is evident 
on these Burmeister & Wain boilers is seldom seen. He knows of 
no boiler works in the United States which are turning out better 
work than that seen here. The boilers under construction are of 
the Scotch type, and the material comprises plates of English origin 
and furnaces from Germany. Pneumatic tools are largely employed, 
and these came from Pokorny & Wiettekind, of Frankfort-on-Main. 
For the boilers it is necessary to use either English or German boiler 
plates, since there are no rolling mills in Denmark. In the boiler 
shop overhead cranes are in use, which have been supplied by the 
Titan Works, of Copenhagen. Messrs. G. & A. Harvey, of Glas¬ 
gow, have furnished a number of tools for use in the boiler depart¬ 
ment for reaming and boring out manholes and furnace heads. 

MAIN MACHINE. SHOP-CENTRAL POWER STATION. 

The main machine shop, which is also used as an assembling shop, 
is a beautiful modern structure, divided into three departments and 
having a total length of 106 meters and a width of 51 meters in all. 
Overhead traveling cranes serve all parts of the building. These 
traveling cranes are of both German and Swedish origin. One 
Swedish crane came from A. S. Elektriska. The flooring in this 
building is made of blocks laid over a cement foundation. The shop, 
in conjunction with the entire works, is heated and ventilated on the 
hot-air system, installed by the Buffalo Forge Company, of Buffalo, 
N. Y. All piping for this system was made in Copenhagen, but the 
blowers were imported direct from the United States. The installa¬ 
tion was made about nine years ago. 

In this main erecting shop are numerous American machine tools, 
and it was estimated that there are at least 50 lathes from Flather & 
Co., of Nashua, N. H. The Flather lathes in use were purchased 
several years ago, and before high-speed steel was generally in use. 
These lathes are very much liked, but Mr. Prollius expressed the 
opinion that in vieAV of the introduction of high-speed steel, the tools 
are somewhat light for the general work of to-day, and in consequence 
it was necessary to buy a number of special lathes to do the rough 
work. After the roughing is effected the material is passed on to 
the Flather tools. In other words, it is a case of utilizing machines 
of early date rather than install a complete set of newer tools. 

Brown & Sharpe tools are very much in evidence in the shops, as 
are also Pratt & Whitney machines. Mr. Prollius stated that he had 
seen service in both the Brown & Sharpe and the Pratt & Whitney 
works. 


100 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN DENMARK. 


Much of the workmanship demanded is of a most exacting character. 
On the Diesel motor shafting, for example, all measurements are to one 
one-thousandth of an inch. This engine work, Mr. Prollius declared, 
must be of a most exact finish and careful adjustment, and it is only 
because of the exceptional care taken that the Diesel motors turned 
out by this firm have never yet broken down. Much of the small 
casting work, it was noticed, is of a softer iron than one generally 
finds in European shops, and it was explained that for these small 
castings gray iron from the United States is purchased because 
European iron is regarded by the firm as too hard. The opinion is 
held here that the United States material is not only softer, but at 
the same time is sufficiently tough to stand requirements. For the 
general run of castings, however, other than the small castings, re¬ 
course is had mostly to German sources. 

The power for all shops is furnished from a central station, and 
here a 2,000-horsepower tandem compound steam engine was at work. 
This is said to be the largest single-power station engine in service in 
Scandinavia. There are two reserve engines in this station of 400 
horsepower each. The building containing this engine is of beautiful 
design and construction throughout, and the main interior design 
includes a wall replica of the Viking ship. 

OTHER AMERICAN TOOLS IN USE. 

There are quite a number of tools in service from the Niles Tool 
Works, of Hamilton, Ohio, which have been purchased during the 
past few years. Many of these American tools have been secured 
through Messrs. Loewener, a Danish firm in Copenhagen. The state¬ 
ment was made that Burmeister & Wain have found by experience 
that they can buy these tools from Messrs. Loewener to greater ad¬ 
vantage than from the United States direct. 

Mr. Prollius was enthusiastic regarding the working of two radial 
drills received about six months ago from the Dreses Machine Tool 
Company, of Cincinnati. These two machines are of the Simplex 
type, and the shop manager declared that they were “ beautiful 
machines.” 

Swedish manufacturers are largely drawn upon for chucks, al¬ 
though Danish sources are also called upon for supplies. A Swedish 
chuck for small-drill service that is much in favor is referred to as 
the Gronqvist chuck. 

Grinding work is carried on here extensively, and the grinders in 
service are for the most part from the Brown & Sharpe Manufactur¬ 
ing Company, Providence, B. I. Diesel motor pistons were being 
turned down on Nielsen & Winther lathes, and are finished up on 
Brown & Sharpe grinders. The 50 Flather lathes in service have 
been in use for about ten years. These tools have done such good 
work that, notwithstanding their age, the firm has been reluctant to 
substitute for them newer tools. Other American lathes in evidence 
of a more recent purchase are from Lodge & Shipley, the American 
Tool AVorks Company, and Pratt & Whitney. 

The average wages earned by a good machinist at a Flather lathe 
varies from 50 to 60 ore (13.4 to 16 cents) per hour. Practically all 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN DENMARK. 


101 


the work at Burmeister & Wain’s is on a piecework schedule. In 
winter time a day’s work comprises nine hours and in summer time 
ten hours. 

The machinery-erecting shops are naturally the largest at Bur¬ 
meister & Wain’s, but the department for the manufacture of sepa¬ 
rators and the tool deparlment proper contain perhaps the greatest 
number of modern American machine tools. In the tool department 
were found machines from Brown & Sharpe, from Hendey, and from 
Flather & Co., but the greatest number of tools in evidence are from 
Brown & Sharpe. 

CREAM SEPARATOR DEPARTMENT. 

In the cream separator department the installation is very modern 
and comprises many tools of American make. The work here is 
carried on in series and permits of the use of automatic machinery. 
It is in this department that American tools show to great advantage. 
Here there are in use 11 Brown & Sharpe milling machines, and, in 
addition, gear cutters from the same firm. Messrs. Brown & Sharpe 
have supplied two No. 3 universal grinding machines, two No. 11 
plain grinding machines, and two No. 2 universal grinding machines. 
These tools have all been placed by Messrs. Loewener, of Copen¬ 
hagen, which firm has the control of Brown & Sharpe tools in Danish 
territory. This agency is highly spoken of by Messrs. Burmeister & 
Wain. 

One Reinecker grinder is in use, but the statement was made that 
it is not as satisfactory by fully 50 per cent as the Brown & Sharpe 
grinder of the same size. Hobbing machines are resorted to largely, 
and these hobbing machines have been supplied by the Wanderer 
Works and by Biernatzki & Co., both of Chemnitz, Germany. The 
opinion was expressed in most positive terms that the American 
grinders are far ahead of European makes. 

Four vertical drills from the Aurora Tool Works, of Aurora, Ill., 
were noticed. These machines were bought separately and were 
then thrown into multiple action by connecting up to a single plate. 
The machines are staggered or placed en echelon. This arrangement 
of the tools was necessary in order to effect belt connection to the 
same overhead shaft. It was stated that by buying these tools sepa¬ 
rately and then connecting them up at the shops an appreciable 
saving was made over the purchase of an out-and-out set of vertical 
drills. 

Circular milling machines are extensively used in the separator 
shops, and these machines have been supplied largely by Ludwig 
Loewe. All the hobbing machines are furnished with up-take drafts, 
in order to clear the machines from chips. In addition to Wanderer 
and Biernatzki tools, there are two hobbing machines in use from 
Zimmerman, of Chemnitz. 

In the separator tool room is a Cincinnati shaper, to which was 
fitted a German attachment for planing bevel gears. Jigs are in 
general use. This is because the work is turned out in series form. 

The best foreign business in separators has been carried on with 
Russia and Australia; in other words, these two countries have 
afforded the biggest market. The Burmeister & Wain cream separa- 


102 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN DENMARK. 


tors are said to have been among the first on the market. It would 
appear that the demand on the company for other undertakings 
claims so much attention that the firm has not devoted the amount of 
time to the separator as would otherwise have been possible. 

METHODS EMPLOYED AND SPECIAL TOOLS IN USE. 

Welding work is carried on largely by means of acetylene-gas 
machines. Haniel & Lueg, of Dusseldorf, have furnished a number 
of these special flanging presses. 

American raw bone dust is used in connection with case-hardening 
work. For general work, cheaper stuff, it is said, would suffice, but 
the raw bone dust supplied from the United States is practically free 
from fat, and therefore commends itself. The hardening furnaces 
in use have been supplied by the Chicago Flexible Shaft Company, 
of Chicago. The American Gas Furnace Company has supplied sev¬ 
eral furnaces. The steel used is of either Vingo or Bolder make— 
Bolder for rapid and high carbons, and the Vmgo for general soft 
carbons. 

There are a number of Pratt & Whitney turret lathes in the separa¬ 
tor works, and they are referred to as beautiful tools. Bardon & 
Oliver, of Cleveland, Ohio, are represented here by hand turret 
lathes. The machines are well liked. The R. K. LeBlond Machine 
Tool Company, of Cincinnati, have recently furnished two lathes, 
and the statement was made that Burmeister & Wain regard these 
LeBlond lathes as among the very best of American makes. They 
are particularly pleased because the tools have proved to be swift 
and strong. All steeple tool posts as furnished on American lathes 
are, as a rule, removed when received by Burmeister & Wain and 
European box posts substituted. 

The Nielsen & Winther turret lathe, as manufactured in Copen¬ 
hagen, is in high favor at these shops, and is especially fancied be¬ 
cause the feeds permit of a wide range and a rapid return and ad¬ 
vance of the turret. Direct comparisons were made between these 
Nielsen & Winther lathes and one American machine, as showing the 
European ideas of relative merit. Reference is made to the Nielsen 
& Winther lathe in extenso in a report on that firm. The writer in¬ 
clines to the opinion, however, that the full value of some of the 
American lathes is not fully appreciated. Very frequently one finds 
American tools being operated in foreign shops in a manner which 
would lead one to suppose that the machine is not thoroughly 
understood. 

The Cleveland Automatic Machine Company has supplied a num¬ 
ber of screw machines. The only English tool observed in the sepa¬ 
rator department was a screw machine of Alfred Herbert, Ltd., of 
Coventry. Practically all gages in use are from Brown & Sharpe. 
There is in use, however, a standard measuring tool supplied by 
Pratt & Whitney. 

LARGE PROPORTION OF AMERICAN MACHINE TOOLS. 

An inspection of the Burmeister & Wain works very early de¬ 
velops the fact that this firm has been a large purchaser of American 
machine tools. It would appear that fully 50 per cent of the ma- 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN DENMARK. 


103 


chine tools in use are of American origin. Among them, and in¬ 
cluding equipment, are the following: 


Flatlier & Co., Nashua, N. H_Shapers, lathes (50). 

Brown & Sharpe Mfg. Co., Providence, R. I_Grinders, universal millers, 

gear cutters, turret boring 
mill, gages. 

Pratt & Whitney, Hartford, Conn_Head-turret lathes (3), lathes 

(2), standard measuring 
tool(1). 

Hartford Machine Tool Co., Hartford_Automatic screw machines. 

Hendey Machine Tool Co., Torrington, Conn_Lathes. 

Buffalo Forge Co., Buffalo-Heating and ventilating sys¬ 

tem. 

American Gas Furnace Co., Elizabeth, N. J_Furnaces. 

Pond Machine Tool Co., Plainfield, N. J_Heavy lathe. 

Bement, Miles & Co., Philadelphia__Horizontal boring machine. 

Niles Tool Works, Hamilton, Ohio_Heavy planers (2), boring 

mills (2), boring machine, 
heavy crank shaft lathe and 
si otters. 


Hamilton Machine Tool Co., Hamilton_Heavy lathes (2). 

1 >reses, Muller & Co., Cincinnati_Radial drills, Simplex radial 

drills. 

Lodge & Shipley Machine Tool Co.. Cincinnati__Engine lathes. 

American Tool Works Co., Cincinnati_Lathes. 

Cincinnati Milling Machine Co., Cincinnati_Grinding machine. 

Cincinnati Drill and Tool Co., Cincinnati_Vertical drill. 

Cincinnati Shaper Co., Cincinnati_Shaper. 

Bardon & Oliver, Cleveland__Pland turret lathes. 

R. K. Le Blond Machine Tool Co., Cincinnati_Lathes. 

Cleveland Automatic Machine Co., Cleveland_Screw machines. 

Chicago Flexible Shaft Co., Chicago_Hardening furnaces. 

Aurora Tool Works, Aurora, Ill_Vertical drills. 

Gisholt Machine Co., Madison, Wis_Turret lathes. 


The time recorders used throughout Burmeister & Wain’s works 
are of the Simplex type, American origin. 


FORETON MACHINE TOOLS INSTALLED. 

Among the foreign machine tools in use are the following: 

Hulse & Co., Manchester, England, radial drill and planers; Nielsen & 
Winther, Copenhagen, Denmark, bolt screw machines; Deutsche-Niles Werk- 
zeugmaschinenfabrik, Oberschoneweide, near Berlin, head forging lathe, multiple 
drills; Job. Moll, lathe for turning down crank shaft; J. Whitworth & Co. 
(Limited), Manchester, planers and slotters; Breuer, Schumacher & Co., Kalk, 
near Cologne, boring mill; Sharp, Stewart & Co., Manchester, England, heavy 
shaft lathe; Ernst Schiess, Dusseldorf, Germany, horizontal big swing lathe; 
Wm. Muir & Co., Glasgow, Scotland, heavy radial drills; Mekaniska Verkstad, 
Kopings, Sweden, lathes; Noble & Lund, Newcastle-on-Tyne, cold saw machines; 
Haniel & Lueg, Dusseldorf, Germany, flanging press; Zimmermann, Chemnitz, 
Germany, bobbing machines; Ludwig Loewe & Co., Berlin, circular milling 
machines; J. E. Reinecker, Chemnitz, grinding machine; Alfred Herbert 
(Limited), Coventry, England, screw machine. 

The writer has no hesitancy in saying that these are works which 
not only turn out a high grade of material, but require machine 
tools of the first quality. The entire spirit at the plant is of a pro¬ 
gressive sort, and there need be no doubt that the directors of this 
establishment will welcome their attention being called to ma¬ 
chinery which will enable them to accomplish results either more 
etfectively or more economically. 























104 


MACHTNE-TOOL TRADE TN DENMARK. 


The business of the firm is largely of an export nature, and the 
situation is specially advantageous for dealing with Scandinavian 
requirements. During recent years advantage has been taken of 
many rush orders which could not be handled advantageously in Ger¬ 
many because of abnormal conditions there'. Primarily, Burmeister & 
Wain’s is a Scandinavian plant in organization, and is designed for 
Scandinavian requirements. Its development has been steady and 
sure, and has been so closely identified with the welfare of the state 
as to justify its being considered almost a national institution. 

NIELSEN & WINTHER. 

The machine-tool works of the stock company, Nielsen & Winther, 
located at Blegdamsvej, No. 60, Copenhagen, are known in Danish 
as Aktieselskabet Nielsen & Winther’s Yaerktoejsmaskinfabrik. The 
directors are Capt. F. II. J. Rambusch and Mr. August Schmidt. 

When the first buildings were erected there was considerable open 
ground about them, but owing to the building up of the city the 
plant now finds itself surrounded on all sides by buildings. Nat¬ 
urally, the value of the land has increased, and in consequence there 
is some disadvantage by reason of the increased congestion. The 
absence- of water and rail connection enhances this disadvantage. 
Instead of being able to extend the ground space occupied, the man¬ 
agement has found it necessary to increase the number of floors and 
to have considerable recourse to elevators. 

These works were founded in 1873, and became a limited company 
in 1897. In September, 1909, the number of men employed was 160. 
When working full time 230 men are carried on the pay rolls. The 
company is at present capitalized at 650,000 crowns ($174,200).- 

FIRM NOTED FOR TURRET LATHES. 

The present managers recognize that their success in machine-tool 
building lies largely in their ability to build in series. The firm is 
best known through its turret lathes, but milling machines and ver¬ 
tical drills are also built. Formerly a large variety of tools was 
built, but every effort has been made to cut down the output to tur¬ 
ret lathes, millers, and vertical drills, the ordinary type lathes, many 
of which were formerly constructed, being no longer made. Director 
Schmidt states that from his observation Danish plants absorb more 
than 200 lathes per year, and it was found that the ordinary type of 
lathes could not be manufactured here to advantage. The competi¬ 
tion from German sources was keenly felt, and German firms were 
offering lathes at prices which were unprofitable to meet. The Ger¬ 
man price here for ordinary lathes is about 21 pfennigs per pound 
(1 mark=100 pfennig=23.8 cents). Director Schmidt states that 
castings in Denmark cost 25 ore per kilo, or 28 pfennigs (1 kilo=2.2 
pounds), and therefore it is quite impossible to build ordinary lathes, 
as the work can not be done for 14 pfennigs per kilo. 

Director Schmidt says that the duty on machine tools coming into 
Denmark at present is 5 per cent of the value of the machine. This 
valuation is reckoned on the invoice figures, plus the freight charges. 
It is his opinion that the Germans are at present securing three- 
fourths of the lathe business in Denmark. 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN DENMARK. 


105 


LATHE SELLING COMPETITION. 

The cheap German lathe sells in Denmark largely because the 
question of price is paramount with Danish firms. Director Schmidt 
states that many of these German lathes coming into Denmark are 
copied attempts of standard American tools, and that they are manu¬ 
factured by small German houses—oftentimes by firms having not 
more than 40 or 50 men. These small German plants, he says, are 
controlled by large German selling firms that sell the tools without 
the name of the manufacturers appearing on them. As these Ger¬ 
man houses control the small shops, the advantage to the agency 
in selling the cheap tools, Director Schmidt says, lies evidently in 
realizing the full benefit of the manufacturer’s profit. With the 
turret lathes, however, Nielsen & Winther are able to meet the Ger¬ 
man and foreign competition, and the bulk of their output is for 
export. 

About two complete series of big turret lathes are turned out by 
them in a year’s time. Only a few of these tools are absorbed by 
Danish works. Great care is exercised in the matter of castings for 
the beds of the tools. These castings come from Danish establish¬ 
ments and are supplied at a cost of 25 ore per kilo (1 crown=100 
ore=26.8 cents). 

Nielsen & Winther tools in use in Continental shops have been ob¬ 
served from time to time by the writer, who has heard them referred 
to in high terms. A specialty is made of turret lathes of the Gisholt 
type. These tools are being built in series of 25, and the design and 
general workmanship are noteworthy. 

Messrs, de Fries & Co., of Dusseldorf, purchased 26 of these 
turret lathes, presumably for sales on their part, and Messrs. Panhard 
& Levassor, of Paris, have in service 14 of them. The Skoda Works, 
of Pilsen, placed an order for 37 of them, and recently the Copen¬ 
hagen firm has executed an order for 22 turret lathes and 14 special 
machines for the Government of Servia, to be used in the manu¬ 
facture of fuses. These turret lathes were first seen by the writer 
in the Berliet Automobile Works, in Lyons, and since then have 
frequently been noticed in service on the Continent. 

FEATURES OF TURRET LATHES. 

The Nielsen & Winther semiautomatic turret lathe is being made 
in four sizes. The principal features of this machine are as follows: 
The head stock is cast in one piece with the bed, and both are made 
heavy to prevent all possibility of spring. The spindle, which is 
made of the best steel, is bored throughout its length, hardened and 
ground, and carries a 3-jaw universal chuck, with two sets of 
jaws. The spindle runs in conical phosphor-bronze bearings, ad¬ 
justable for wear, and furnished with a thrust ring of Babbitt metal. 
The drive is by means of a 3-step cone and friction back gears, 
which can be operated while in motion. There is also a special back 
gear for work of large diameter; thus, with a 3-speed counter¬ 
shaft a range of 27 spindle speeds is obtained. The friction 
clutches are very carefully designed, having screw-actuated cylin¬ 
drical contact surfaces obviating end thrust. Being unaffected by 


106 


MACHINE-TOOL TEADE IN DENMARK. 


centrifugal force, even at the highest speeds, these clutches are said 
to be perfectly reliable in action. 

The dimensions of the parts of the various machines are given 
herewith in millimeters (1 inch=25.4 millimeters), and the weights 
in kilos (1 kilo=2.2 pounds) : 



R. G. 2. 

R. G. 2e. 

R. G. 3. 

R. G. 3e. 

Maximum swing over bed. 

Mm. 

550 

Mm. 

650 

Mm. 

700 

Mm. 

800 

Maximum swing over carriage. 

300 

400 

420 

525 

Length that can be turned. 

1,400 

67 

1,400 

132 

1,400 

80 

1,400 

180 

Diameter of hole through spindle. 

Diameter of holes in hexagon turret. 

67 

57 

76 

76 

Width of belt cones. 

100 

115 

115 

130 

Range of screw cutting. 

4-72 per 100 
115 

4-72 per 115 
130 

4-72 per 115 
130 

4-72 per 130 

Friction pullevs of countershaft. 

145 

Speeds of countershaft. 

90,140 
190 

90,140 
190 

90,140 
190 

90,140 

Revolutions per minute. 

190 

Floor space required. 

3,400x1,070 

Kilos. 

3,250 

3,400x1,070 

Kilos. 

3,350 

3,850x1,200 

Kilos. 

4,000 

3,850x1,200 
Kilos. 

4,800 

Net weight. 



OTHER TYPES OF TURRET LATHES. 

Besides these machines Nielsen & Winther are building a turret 
lathe, type R. H. 3, in three sizes. The principal features of this ma¬ 
chine are as follows: The frame is formed in one piece, including head 
stock, bed, and foot, to avoid twisting; the bed has two leading prisms 
and is supplied with two large oil pans, besides a tool box and a box for 
the gearing wheels. The spindle, which is bored throughout its 
length, is of high-carbon steel and exactly ground on the bearing 
places. It runs in adjustable bearings of phosphor-bronze and has a 
step cone with two steps. The ordinary revolutions per minute are: 

By R. H. 2.—450, 375, 300, 200, 167, 137, 100, 83, 67, 44.5, 37, and 30. 

By R. H. 3 and 3e.—375, 300, 225, 167, 133, 100, 83, 67, 50, 37, 29.5, and 22. 

By R. H. 4.-375, 263, 167, 150, 117, 67, 47, 34, 33. 24, 21, 19, 15, 14.5, 13.5, 
10.5, 8.5, and 6. 

On the left end of the spindle the machine can be fitted with a roller 
feed for bar work, and the right end is furnished with an automatic 
chuck for fastening the bar. The countershaft has oil-ring bearings 
and three pulleys with screw-friction clutches of the same con¬ 
struction as the spindle. The cutting-off rest, which is moved across 
the bed by means of a handwheel and screw, is used for cutting off 
and turning with a shape steel. The motion is limited by adjustable 
stops for both directions. In the lengthwise direction the cutting-off 
rest is moved by a second handwheel with rack and pinion for turn¬ 
ing cylindrical planes; this motion is limited by a stop. 

R. H. 2 is furnished with two adjustable tool holders, one in the 
front and one behind; the tools are very easily adjusted in the height 
by the step-formed support. 

R. H. 3 and R. H. 3e are furnished with two double tool holders, 
one in the front and one behind; they are turned 180° on their verti¬ 
cal axis and may therefore be considered as small turret heads. In 
front, the cutting-off rest bears a slide, which by handwheel and screw 
is moved 50 mm. in the lengthwise direction of the machine, which in 
threading is considered to be a great advantage. 





























MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN DENMARK. 107 

In R. H. 4 the principal tool holder is compensated by a four-edged 
turret head, which is turned by hand. 

The four tools can be adjusted in height quite independently of 
each other. 

SPECIAL FEATURES OF CERTAIN LATHES. 

R. H. 3 and R. H. 3e have lengthwise feeding by lead screw, corre¬ 
sponding to turning, with a chip of 0.25 mm. thickness, and for 
boring 0.125 mm. 

The R. H. 4 machine has four different lengthwise feedings, for 
0.05, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.5 mm. chip. 

Different feedings can be obtained by use of the gear wheels. 
Automatic feeding in direction of the head stock can be stopped 
automatically in any position wanted. The turret head is hexagonal 
in form and constructed to take tool holders of a special and strong 
construction. Each of the six tools has its own independent adjust¬ 
able stop. The turret is effectively stopped in each of its six posi¬ 
tions by a solid, hardened cylindrical pawl. By withdrawing a bolt, 
bar work can be led through the turret head. 

The threading is done either by help of a die head, or especially 
in threading of large diameter, by help of the lead screw and the 
gearing wheels. Machine R. H. 2, however, has a threading attach¬ 
ment with bearings in one piece with the spindle. The lead screw 
in the case of R. II. 3, R. H. 3e, and R. H. 4 has four threads of 
25.4 mm., which can be connected both with the cutting-off rest and 
with the slide for the turret head, as well for-threading by help of 
the gear wheels as for automatic lengthwise feeding. R. H. 3 and 
R. H. 3e are provided with two, and R. H. 4 with four different 
feeds, which during the work can be changed from one to another 
by handle movement. 

In all the machines the lead screw can be thrown out of working, 
when feeding by hand. Besides the usual gearing wheels a wheel 
with 127 teeth for metric threading is provided. The dimensions, 
weight, and floor space required are as follows: 



R. H. 2. 

R. H. 3. 

R. H. 3e. 

R. H. 4. 

M^xjmnm swine - nvnr bed. 

Mm. 

400 

Mm. 

425 

Mm. 

425 

Mm. 

475 

Maxim 11 ™ swing nvpr rarrisge. 

200 

210 

210 

250 

Diameter <~>f hnlp through spindle. 

52 

60 

85 

105 

Largest diameter of hars permitted... _ 

51 

58.5 

83 

95 

Largest distance between spindle and car- 

ringo...... 

400 

550 

550 

750 

Largest distance between spindle and turret 

600 

775 

725 

1,000 

Diameter of tool holes in turret, head. 

45 

,55 

55 

85 

Width of sfep on eone steps. 

90 

100 

100 

' 115 

Countershaft pulleys: 

Width . 

105 

105 

105 

115 

Diaoietpr ... 

250 

300 

300 

350 

Revolutions per minute.. 

200, 250, 300 
No. 

150, 200, 250 

150, 200, 2.50 

100, 175, 250 

T.ppd qprpw .. . 

Yes. 

Yes. 

Yes. 

Mnmhurnf loriP’thwWP fppdini? . 

2 

2 

2 

4 


2,400 x 900 

2,800 x 1,000 

2,800 x 1,000 

3,200 x 1,200 

Weight, inclusive of countershaft: 

Net . 

Kilos. 

1,200 

Kilos. 

1,800 

Kilos. 

2,000 

Kilos. 

2,400 

Boxed . 

1,400 

2,150 

2,350 

2,800 


Mm. 

2,300 x 1,200 

Mm. 

2,650 x 1,250 

Mm. 

2,650 x 1,250 

Mm. 

3,350 x 1,400 


x 1,450 

x 1,400 

x 1,400 

x 1,750 











































108 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN DENMARK. 


SMALL TURRET LATHES-PRICES OF VARIOUS TYPES. 

The small turret lathe, as manufactured for arsenal service, is made 
of three types, known as R. 1 C, R. 2 C, and R. 3 C. The following 
table gives the principal dimensions, floor space, and weights of these 
machines: 



R. 1 C. 

R. 2 C. 

R. 3 C. 

Maximum swing over bed. 

Mm. 

250 

Mm. 

300 

Mm. 

350 

Maximum swing over carriage. 

100 

150 

175 

Length that can be turned. 

225 

350 

500 

Diameter of hole through spindle. 

22 

32 

25 

45 

Diameter of holes in hexagon turret.... 

14 

35 

Width of belt cones... 

45 

65 

80 

Largest diameter of bore work permitted. 

14 

31 

44 

Friction pullevs of countershaft. 

70 

85 

95 

Speeds of countershaft, revolutions per minute. 

200 

100,200,300 
1,600 x 700 
Kilos. 

550 

100,200,300 
1,800 x 800 
Kilos. 

800 

Floor space required. 

1,200 x 700 
Kilos. 

300 

Net weight. 



The prices at which the regular types of turret lathes are sold 
are as follows: R. G. 2, $2,010; R. G. 2e, $2,278; R. G. 3, $2,412; 
R. G. 3e, $2,814; R. H. 2, $536 ; R. H. 3, $1,072; R. H. 3e, $1,206; 
R. H. 4, $1,474; R. 1 C., $322; R. 2 C., $402; R. 3 C., $536. 

HYDRAULIC PUMPS, ACCUMULATORS, AND PRESSES. 

Nielsen & Winther are making hydraulic pumps, accumulators, 
and presses of various types, the last designed especially for making 
ammunition cases and shells. The pumps are built both, vertical 
and horizontal in type and for all pressures and work, as required. 
The type Tr. P. is directly connected with a dynamo. Under a 
pressure of 200 atmospheres it is capable of pumping 100 liters per 
minute. Type D. P. is connected to a steam engine, and under a 
pressure of 250 atmospheres pumps 450 liters per minute; similar 
pumps are built to operate by electric power. 

Accumulators are manufactured by this firm in various sizes. The 
weight of these is secured partly from an iron cylinder and partly 
from cylindrical cast-iron pieces. The iron cylinder is filled with 
cement, slag, or similar material. The cylindrical parts below the 
cylinder proper each weigh about 10 tons. 

The establishment turns out presses especially designed for taper¬ 
ing cases and shrapnels, as well as for banding copper bands on 
projectiles. Under a maximum pressure of 140 atmospheres there 
are secured 70,000 kilos weight. 

Still another type of press'is designed for shaping shells and brass 
cases up to 210 mm. caliber. This type of press affords two distinct 
pressures for each pressure in the pipe and the filling is effected 
automatically, thus affording considerable economy as far as concerns 
liquid pressure. The principal dimensions of this press are: Length 
of stroke, 1,300 mm.; total pressure at 100 atmospheres, 100 and 180 
tons; total pressure at 250 atmospheres, 250 and 450 tons: net weight, 
19,000 kilos. 

Yet another type of press is constructed for the fore-pressing and 
necking of brass cases. The principal dimensions of this press are: 
Length of stroke, 250 mm.; total pressure at 800 atmospheres, 1,650 
tons; net weight, about 25,000 kilos. 





















MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN DENMARK. 


109 


In addition to the foregoing, Nielsen & Winther also undertake 
to manufacture hydraulic forging presses and build special machines 
for the manufacture of shrapnels and shells. The Copenhagen firm 
has filled a number of orders received from firms in Austria, Russia, 
Italy, Sweden, and other foreign countries, and Schneider & Co., of 
Le Creusot, France, have installed pumps and presses of Nielsen & 
Winther make. 

SPECIAL AUTOMATIC MILLER IN USE-CHUCKS AND TAPS. 

In a special chuck department there was observed a groove milling 
machine which is largely used on chuck work. There has been here¬ 
tofore a large demand for these groove milling machines, but it is 
only recently that the firm has been able to undertake their manu¬ 
facture for the outside market. The special features connected with 
this groove milling machine are as follows: 

The machine is designed for milling the jaw grooves in chucks 
without the need of an operator except for setting the work. The 
milling is done in one cut. When the cutter feeds into work from 
the outside the slow feed is used, but on reaching the end of the 
slot it is automatically changed into the fast feed, and the center 
returns through the end at a very quick speed, leaving the groove 
in a good condition. As soon as the cutter has finished the work the 
feed is stopped automatically, the machine revolves the table, and 
places it in a proper position for the next groove. When the last 
groove has been cut, the main belt is thrown on a loose pulley, and 
the man is notified that the machine is ready for another piece of 
work. 

The changing of the feed, as well as the revolving of the table, is 
very handily set to any point desired by means of a bracket and two 
bolts. The saddle support of the spindle is provided with a fine 
adjusting attachment for any desirable depth of the grooves. The 
machine can be arranged for milling any number of grooves wanted. 
The dimensions, floor space, and weight are as follows: 



M. 35a. 

M. 35b. 

Largest size of chuck to be milled »_...................... 

Mm. 

310 

Mm. 

625 

Diameter of spindle. .. 

35 

50 

Vertica 1 movement of spindle .. 

100 

120 

r>inmptp»r r»f fn «tPTliTW pllllf'k . 

500 

600 

Length of slide. - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -.. .-. - - 

700 

700 

Width of slide ......... 

570 

570 

ATnmViAr diffpreut fppdillS 1, Sl)(*ods . .... .. 

4 

4 


200-250 

300 

WiH t h of qfpn on poll P .. .. 

80 

100 


3 

3 

Cnood nf POlintprchflft TlPf Tninutp .. 

250 

200 

opeeu oi tuuiiitJioiuu v pci xxiiu uic •••• . ... 

Tliompfor nf ooiiti fprqh p ft nnllev .... .. .. 

320 

350 

Widtfi a f ti fprchflft niillpv . 

80 

100 

vv lain oi uouiHciMuuipuiicj ..... 

1,600x1,200 

1,600x1,600 


Kilos. 

1,200 

Kilos. 

1,800 



The prices of these milling machines are as follows: M. 35a, 
$1,072; M. 35b, $1,501; M. 36, $536. 

Quite a profitable business is done, the writer has been given to 
understand, by Nielsen & Winther, in the sale of chucks in all parts 
of Europe. There seems to be a general opinion that the chucks 
made by them are better than the general run of German chucks 
































110 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN DENMARK. 


offered to the Danish market, and in this line they appear to be fully 
able to meet foreign quotations. Besides the chuck department there 
is a tap department, the output from which is finding a good sale 
in Denmark and Germany. The taps are turned out on tools of their 
own build, and they are milling all taps with automatic machines of 
their own design and make. Naturally, where series work is under¬ 
taken jigs are employed, and this is the case here. 

Vertical millers are built in series of 10 tools to a series. These 
vertical millers have tables measuring 18 by 9 inches. Besides this 
milling machine the firm builds some special wheel-milling ma¬ 
chines and some special machines for the manufacturing of taps. 

SPECIAL THREADING MILLER. 

Recently a special type of milling machine for threading was built 
for a prominent factory in Italy, and it is stated that the question 
of future orders for this machine will largely depend on the work¬ 
ing of the prototype. The principal characteristics of this machine 
are as follows: The machine is especially constructed for milling 
the threading in the head of shells. The headstock is formed in one 
piece with the bed and the oil pans, to avoid trembling and bending. 

The spindle, which is made of steel of high carbon and exactly 
ground on the bearing places, is bored in its lull length and runs in 
adjustable bearings of phosphor-bronze. The left end of the spindle 
is fitted with a changeable threading bush, which threads have the 
same pitch as the working piece is to have. 

In connection with the headstock the machine is supplied with a 
nut, turned by help of a handwheel; this nut is fastened or un¬ 
fastened by a pawl. If the pawl is in activity the spindle moves 
lengthwise with exactly the same gage as the threading bush ; if the 
pawl is out of activity the spindle moves backwards by turning the 
handwheel until the pawl meets the hole which corresponds with the 
original positions of the spindle. 

The milling support is placed on a slide movable in both direc¬ 
tions—in the cross direction by handwheel and screw, and lengthwise 
by another handwheel rack and pinion. Both movements are limited 
by an adjustable stop. From the milling spindle, which is started 
from a countershaft with a fast and loose pulley, the working spindle 
gets its movement by a worm and worm wheel, two changeable wheels, 
two sets of conical wheels, and again a worm and worm wheel. By 
the help of this combination it is possible through the changeable 
wheels to alter the revolving of the working spindle in proportion to 
the revolving of the cutter. 

When the working piece is chucked the milling support is moved 
far enough to the left to bring the cutter into the right position for 
milling; then the machine is started and the cross slide is moved far 
enough forward to give the right gage. The milling then goes on 
until the working spindle has gone a little farther than one revolu¬ 
tion ; it is then released automatically and the milling support is re¬ 
moved by hand to give room for a new working piece. In front of 
the headstock is a lever by which the clutch for the conical wheels 
on the back side is regulated, and by which the working spindle can 
be turned right or left if it is to cut the gage right or left. 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN DENMARK. 


Ill 


By cutting the inner threading in the shells a rest in which the 
chucking attachment runs is used. The dimensions, etc., of this 
machine are as follows: Largest diameter for cutting, 120 mm.; 
largest length of the working piece, 340 mm.; pulleys on counter¬ 
shaft, 80 by 230 mm.; revolutions per minute, 200; floor space re¬ 
quired, TOO by 1,200 mm.; net weight, 450 kilos. 

The greater part of the gears cut in the shops are being turned out, 
it was noticed, on machines of the firm’s own make. For cone gears 
four Warren tools are in service and one Reinecker gear planer. 

The measuring tools employed are from the Brown & Sharpe 
Manufacturing Company, Providence, R. I. 

For cutting steel, recourse is largely had to material furnished by 
Gebriider Bolder, of Austria. 

All gearing work on the turret lathes is milled; in fact, there is 
much recourse to milling work in these shops. 

The castings for the machines are mainly supplied by the United 
Foundry Company, of Copenhagen; that is to say, from the Aarhus 
branch of this firm. 


FIRM MAKES MOST OF ITS MACHINE TOOLS. 


There are not many American machine tools in service in these works. 
The American representation, so far as observed, is limited to the 
following: 

Name of maker, and type and dimensions. 

When 

pur¬ 

chased. 

Price de¬ 
livered in 
Copen¬ 
hagen. 

Jones & Lamson Machine Co., Springfield, Vt.: 

Turret lathe. 

1903 

$714 

Brown & Sharpe Manufacturing Co., Providence: 

No. 2 universal grinding machine.. 

1901 

813 

Metropolitan Manufacturing Co., New York: 

2 gem lathes, 14 inches x 6 feet. 

1900 

217 

Cincinnati Milling Machine Co., Cincinnati: 

No. 2 universal miller ... 

1906 

914 

Dreses, Muller & Co., Cincinnati: 

Radial drill, 48-inch .. 

1898 

568 


The tools in use are for the greater part of Nielsen 

& Winther’s 


-~ - --- - - 0 x 

own make. A Reinecker gear planer, a Reinecker backing-off cutter, 
and one crank shaper from Smith, Peacock & Tennent, Leeds, Eng¬ 
land, were noticed; also a horizontal boring machine from Messrs, 
de Fries, Dusseldorf, Germany. 

The Nielsen & Winther works may be regarded as essentially first 
class, and it is evident that every care and attention is exerted to turn 
out only the best class of work. The firm intends, it is said, to give 
more of its attention to sales abroad in Europe than heretofore, and, 
judging from the reports regarding its tools in foreign shops, it will 
probably not have much difficulty in obtaining a fair share of Conti¬ 
nental business. 

The actual performance of work is paid for in these shops on a 
piecework schedule. A day’s work comprises nine hours in summer. 
The shops open at 6 a. m. and close at 5 p. m. At 8 o’clock there is a 
cessation of work for a half hour, and there is also a cessation of work 
from 12.30 to 1 p. m. 
















112 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN DENMARK. 


GOVERNMENT SMALL-ARMS FACTORY. 

The Danish Government factory for the manufacture of military 
small arms is located in Copenhagen. This establishment is known 
as the Gevaerfabrik. The administration and control of the plant 
is under the War Department, and in many respects the works are 
similar in character to the United States arsenal at Springfield, 
Mass. Through the good offices of Hon. Maurice Francis Egan, 
United States minister to Denmark, permission was granted the 
writer by the Danish authorities to make an inspection of this plant. 
Every courtesy was extended, and for these acknowledgments are 
due to Col. M. N0rres0, director of artillery; to Capt. Carl L. Brandt, 
of the war office; and to Capt. W. Th. Bohn, chief of the Gevaer¬ 
fabrik. 

This factory is a characteristic government small-arms plant. It 
is well equipped with many modern types of machine tools, and the 
buildings and internal fittings are fully what one would expect to 
find in a government establishment. The work of the Gevaerfabrik 
is largely confined to the manufacture of the standard Danish mili¬ 
tary rifle. This is a gun of 8 mm. caliber, and is of the Krag- 
Jorgensen type. 

THE WORKING FORCE 4ND AMERICAN TOOL EQUIPMENT. 

In September, 1909, 150 men were working, but when the full 
facilities of the shops are availed of it is necessary to employ about 
450 men. A working day comprises 10 hours. Judging from 
the work, the machinists here are capable of turning out material 
under very close requirements. Scandinavian machinists are pro¬ 
verbially good tool men, and this fact is well known in the United 
States, where so many men from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden 
find their way into the best shops. 

There are a number of American machine tools in service, but not 
so many as one would expect to find. Brown & Sharpe, of Provi¬ 
dence, R. I., are in evidence with several tools, the lot comprising 
two No. 1 universal milling machines, two No. 11 plain milling 
machines, and two No. 13 plain milling machines, one centering 
machine, and one* grinder. These tools were supplied through 
Messrs. Loewener, of Copenhagen. Pratt & Whitney, of Hartford, 
Conn., have installed several slot milling machines. These were 
obtained, it is stated, about three years ago. In addition to the 
American tools mentioned, only one other was seen in service. This 
was a saAv machine from the Diamond Saw and Steam Works, 
Buffalo, N. Y. 

FOREIGN MACHINE TOOLS IN USE. 

The French machine-tool works of Bariquand & Marre have sup¬ 
plied a number of excellent machines, mostly of the vertical drill 
type. Loewe has also supplied drills of this same character, and the 
same statement applies to the Swedish machine-tool works known as 
Mekaniska Verkstad, located in Koping. The last-named firm has 
also supplied lathes and milling machines. 

LudAvig LoeAve, A. G., of Berlin, has been drawn on to supply 
gun-barrel drilling machines and rifling machines. There are nine of 
these LoeAve rifling tools in service, and five gun-barrel drilling 




MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN DENMARK. 


113 


machines. Aside from Loewe, other makers of rifling machines in 
evidence are Nielsen & Wintlier, of Copenhagen, and Greenwood & 
Batley, of Leeds, England. 

The Greenwood & Batley turning machine in use is spoken of as 
being somewhat better than the Loewe machine for preparing work, 
but the Loewe tool is preferred at the Gevaerfabrik for finishing. 

The majority of the tools in the Gevaerfabrik are from the Nielsen 
& Winther works. Other foreign makers represented are: Ludwig 
Loewe, A. G., of Berlin, gun-barrel drilling machines, rifling ma¬ 
chines, vertical drills; J. & G. Hulse, Manchester, England, lathes 
and slotter; Ateliers Ducommun, Mulhausen, grinder; T. H. Munk- 
tell, Eskilstuna, Svreden, vertical millers and horizontal millers; 
Fairbairn, Kennedy & Naylor, Leeds, circular drilling machine; 
J. Whitworth & Co., Manchester, England, milling machines; Alfred 
Llerbert (Limited), Coventry, England, turret lathes. 

Among the foreign tools in service, there are at least 37 machines 
from Nielsen & Winther, of Copenhagen, there being in one group 
no less than 14 of their millers. This firm has also supplied many 
lathes, planers, and other machines. There was in evidence a gang 
drill and six sensitive drills, but without name of maker showing 
on any of the tools; these machines were obtained from Messrs. 
Karlson. 

In addition to the machine-tool equipment there is a first-class 
forge shop and the requisite complement of casehardening ovens. 


CAPACITY OF THE PLANT-MATERIAL EMPLOYED. 

The rate of output at the Gevaerfabrik is four barrels per rifling 
tool per day, or a total output of 36 rilled barrels every 24 hours. 
The gun-barrel reamers are able to ream about one barrel per hour, 
or 10 in a day, and as there are five of these reaming machines, the 
daily output capacity is 50 barrels. The rifling machines are kept 
more steadily at work than the reamers. This is done in order 
to keep the rifling work abreast of the reaming output. Since the 
original purchase of these Loewe rifling machines improvements have 
been introduced in connection with the cutting steel, which afford an 
output capacity in excess of what was originally expected from these 
tools. Colonel N0rres0 calls attention to the fact that the 
rifling machines, by means of an alteration of the cutting steel, can 
be brought up to at least the same output capacity as the gun-barrel 
drilling machines. 

Practically all of the material used in the construction of the 
Danish rifles is obtained from Swedish sources. Throughout the 
shops the cutting steels used are for the* most part of English origin, 
although a considerable quantity of Bolder, Austrian, steel is also 
used. 

The gunstocks for the Danish rifles are largely made ot German 
walnut. This material comes for the most part from the Baden 

district. . , a 

The factory is also turning out the bayonets for the Danish ntles. 
Formerly it was the practice to draw largelv on Solingen, Germany, 
for bayonets. The bayonets are at present fitted with wood handles, 
the former practice of using leather handles having been discarded. 
The wooden handles are said to be cheaper, and to be regarded as 
practically as good as the leather ones. 

H. Doc. 913, 61-2-8 


114 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN DENMARK. 


BICYCLE AND RIFLE-MITRAILLEUSE BUILDING-SHOTGUNS. 

In addition to the rifle work, the Gevaerfabrik is building bicy¬ 
cles for army use. It is admitted that these bicycles can not be built 
as cheaply as in private works, but it is maintained that the Gevaer¬ 
fabrik bicycle is much stronger than the general run of bicycles on 
the market. It was found that the bicycles purchased from private 
sources were constantly breaking down in the frame. The bicycle 
made at the arsenal is very carefully machined and adjusted, and it 
was stated that there have' been no cases of breakdown of any of 
these government-made machines. 

The factory is building for the Danish army the rifle-mitrailleuse 
of the Madsen system. The Danish army is being equipped rather 
extensively with this rifle-mitrailleuse, and the reports concerning 
the serviceability of the weapon are of a highly satisfactory nature. 
The cavalry, as well as infantry and artillery attachments, are 
equipped with it. 

Besides the outputs above referred to, automatic shotguns are 
manufactured, it is stated, for a Swedish firm known as Svenska 
Yapen og Ammunition Aktiebolaget, of Stockholm. The guns are 
built after the Sjogren system. 

PROVISION FOR ADDITIONAL DEFENSES. 

It is expected that considerable additions will soon be made to 
the Danish army equipment. The new budget provides for about 
30,000,000 crowns ($8,040,000). for defense purposes. Inquiry was 
made as to whether it would be deemed necessary, in view of these 
new appropriations, to increase the arsenal equipment, and the opin¬ 
ion was expressed that it would not be necessary to make any ma¬ 
chine-tool additions out of the ordinary. At both the Gevaerfabrik 
and the ammunition laboratory it is felt that the equipment in hand 
will be sufficient to take care of all demands. 

Danish defense measures are largely centered on the protection of 
the capital, and these defenses take on the nature of land fortifica¬ 
tions. 

The heaviest rifle in the Danish service is the 40-caliber 12-inch 
gun. Krupp’s breech system is used, and also the screw fermeture 
is employed for some guns. Denmark has its own powder works 
and is therefore independent of outside sources, but the majority of 
the heavy guns are purchased abroad. It is understood that" the 
reason for making these purchases abroad is because the necessary 
equipment does not exist in Denmark for the fabrication of heavy 
ordnance. 

Every opportunity was accorded the writer to observe the work¬ 
ings throughout, and he left the plant strongly impressed with the 
high efficiency of the executive control and the excellence of the 
workmanship in vogue. 

DANISH RIFLE WORKS. 

The Danish Rifle Works are building a pneumatic pistol after the 
designs of Lieutenant Schouboe of the Danish service. The weapon 
has a rate of fire of five shots per second. The principal dimensions 
and characteristics are as follows, the meter (1 m. = 1,000 mm. 
=• 39.37 inches) and the kilo (1 kilo = 1,000 grams = 2.2 pounds) 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN DENMARK. 


115 


being the basis of measurement and weight employed: Bore of pis¬ 
tol, 11.35 mm.; total length, 203 mm.; length of barrel, 130 mm.; 
length of aim, 225 mm.; initial velocity, 500 m.; weight of pistol 
without magazine, 0.890 kilos; weight with empty magazine, 0.965 
kilos. The magazine holds 6 cartridges; weight of bullet, 4.1 grams; 
weight of charge, 0.46 gram. 

GOVERNMENT AMMUNITION FACTORY. 

The manufacture of rifle ammunition for the Danish army is con¬ 
ducted at works located in Copenhagen. This plant is referred to 
as the Harens Laboratorium. It is, in other words, a government 
arsenal, and the output embraces not only small-arm cartridges, 
but projectiles for land-fortress guns, sea-fortress guns, and field 
artillery. The officer in charge of the laboratorium, Lieutenant Fal- 
gren-Schaffer, served as a personal escort at that establishment and 
every facility was accorded for an inspection. 

In the Harens Laboratorium about 160 people were employed dur¬ 
ing September, 1909, of which number fully 60 were women and 
girls. The minimum wages earned per hour per man are 37^ ores 
(100 ores=l crown=26.8 cents). The minimum wages earned per 
hour for women and girls are 25 ores. The maximum wages per 
hour for men are 45 ores. 

The shops were working on an eight-hour per day schedule. These 
hours were maintained because there was not sufficient work in hand 
to warrant longer running. The working time is shorter by two 
hours than at the Gevaerfabrik. 

EQUIPMENT AND OUTPUT. 

The installation and equipment of the ammunition works are of 
high order throughout. Great care and attention are bestowed on 
the manufacturing features, and the high executive control at this 
plant impresses one. The majority of the tools in service are of 
German origin. Not even one American tool was seen in use. The 
Danish firm of Nielsen & Winther, manufacturers of machine tools, 
has supplied the greater part of the equipment. 

There is one cartridge-filling machine from the Deutsche Metal- 
Patronenfabrik, of Karlsruhe, and there are two machines of the 
same general design which were built at the laboratory. The capacity 
of these three machines is 1,000,000 cartridges per week, working 
on a 24-liour per day schedule. The ammunition turned out is for 
the 8 mm. caliber gun. 

Ludwig Loewe, A. G., of Berlin, has furnished many cartridge¬ 
making machines, but, in general, Nielsen & Winther and, more 
recently, F. Werner, of Berlin, have been drawn upon to meet the 
requirements of this plant. About the only exceptions noted were 
some machines from the Oerlikon Works, of Zurich. 

There are several heavy presses in use, the largest having a press 
capacity of 1,650,000 kilos (kilo=2.2 pounds). This equipment is 
utilized in the manufacture of projectiles and cases of the heavier 
sort. 

The Harens Laboratorium undertakes to manufacture various sizes 
of shrapnel shell and to fit the necessary fuses. The shrapnels in 
hand are for field artillery and for the lower calibers of land fortress 
rapid-fire guns. 


116 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN DENMARK. 


ATLAS WORKS. 

The Atlas Works, of Copenhagen, are one of the best steam-engine 
building plants in Denmark. The full name and address of this 
establishment are Aktieselskabet Atlas, N0rrebrogade 193, Copen¬ 
hagen L. Mr. H. Martens, secretary of the company, was kind 
enough to show the writer personally over the plant on September 
20, 1909, and every facility for a full' inspection was afforded him. 

The works were founded in 1898. The directors at present are 
H. H. Schou, O. Madsen, and E. Vohtz. The capitalization of the 
firm is 800,000 crowns ($214,400) in shares and at present about 
400,000 crowns ($107,200) in debentures. 

There need be no hesitancy in saying that the engine building here 
ranks among the very best in Europe. The greatest care and atten¬ 
tion are paid to details, and there is technical skill evident on all sides. 
The workmen impress the observer as men of more than ordinary 
capacity, and it appears that this firm is capable of handling work 
of the most exacting character. 

The erecting shop of the works is two years old and is of iron 
and cement construction throughout. Overhead traveling cranes are 
in service, and these cranes are of both the electric and hand-working 
types. 

HIGH-SPEED ENGINES BUILT. 

The works are engaged in building high-speed steam engines, and 
all gearing and valve work is especially designed for high-speed run¬ 
ning. Ordinarily these engines are designed for direct connecting 
to dynamos, although one engine was observed of 1,000 horsepower 
in course of erection, which is connected to a 32-groove fly wheel for 
rope attachment. The gearing in the Atlas Works comes for the most 
part from Germany. This recourse is general on the part of Danish 
plants. It would seem as if Danish works are reluctant to install 
machines for heavy gear cutting. Gear wheels on the Atlas engines 
are beveled, hollowed, and filled with lead to insure quiet running. 

The castings of the Atlas engines are made up of Middleboro iron 
with a mixture of scrap and special pig irons. These castings are 
made in the company’s own foundry. The forgings are for the most 
part obtained from Germany. 

The principal output is steam engines of the superheated type 
for land service. The valve work on these engines is of a special 
Atlas design and is intended especially for steam engines working 
at high speed. This system is regarded as simple in construc¬ 
tion, easy to adjust and maintain, and has the reputation of fur¬ 
nishing correct valve liftings with a quiet and noiseless working, 
even at high speed. A further advantage claimed is that the valve 
automatically resumes its seat when from some cause or other it hap¬ 
pens to hang. Since June, 1907, the Atlas works have built and have 
under construction 21 steam engines fitted with this Atlas valve 
gear, representing a total of about 6,200 horsepower. In the same 
period a total of 60 engines of all types have been built. No attempt 
is made to enter the marine engine building field. 

REFRIGERATING AND ICE-MAKING MACHINERY. 

In addition to steam engines, the Atlas Works make a specialty of 
refrigerating and ice-making machinery. The latter machines are 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN DENMARK. 


117 


designed to use either ammonia or carbonic acid. Under the head 
of refrigerating machinery the Atlas Works undertake to build ma¬ 
chines for cooling water or brine, and machines for cooling air. The 
machines for cooling water or brine are built in weights varying 
from 40 to 040 hundredweight. For ice making this firm undertakes 
to build the plate, the can, and the cell systems. The weight of the ice¬ 
making machines of the can system varies from 50 to 1,100 hundred¬ 
weight. The experience of the Atlas engineers is that steam engines 
should be worked under a highly superheated steam for use in con¬ 
nection with ice-making and refrigerating machinery. Under such 
conditions excellent results have been obtained in the amount of out¬ 
put of ice per ton of coal. All the ammonia machinery for ice-mak¬ 
ing purposes is tested to an air pressure of 30 atmospheres before leav¬ 
ing the works. The carbonic-acid machines have a working pressure 
of normally TO atmospheres, and are naturally tested at higher pres¬ 
sure than the ammonia machines. 

SOURCES OF TOOL SUPPLY. 

The machine-tool installation of the Atlas Works comprises many 
American machine tools. German tools are also much in evidence. 
Most of the engine fittings are of German origin, and German pack¬ 
ing is almost exclusively used. The German firm of Schaeffer & 
Budenburg furnishes most of the ordinary stock valves. Brass rods 
are obtained mostly from Danish sources. Steam lubricators are 
supplied by the Danish firm of Weilbach & Cohens. 

The American machine tools in service are well liked. The only 
comment heard in criticism of American machines was with refer¬ 
ence to the tool posts, but this is an old criticism, and one which 
American manufacturers have long ago recognized when dealing 
with a foreign market. 

The twist drills in service have been supplied for the most part by 
the Cleveland Twist Drill Company, Cleveland, Ohio, and the Morse 
Twist Drill Company, of New Bedford, Mass. 

Most of the files in nse are of English or of Danish origin. There 
are a number of old German lathes in the shops, purchased many 
years ago, but Mr. Martens states that these tools are gradually be¬ 
ing eliminated, and their places are being taken by new American 
types of tools. He also says that all of the old lathes have been 
strengthened so that high-speed steel can be used. 

PRICES PAID FOR AMERICAN TOOLS. 


Among the American machine tools in service are the following, 
purchase price and time of purchase being given when available: 


Name of maker. 

Type and dimensions. 

When 

pur¬ 

chased. 

Price de¬ 
livered in 
Copen¬ 
hagen. 

G W Fifielrl Lowell Mass. 

Lathes—one 42" x 18' lathe. 

1899 

SI, 554 

Do. 

Lathes—one 21" x 12' turret lathe_ 

1899 

'482 

.T F Snyrler &. Go Worcester Mass. 

Vertical drills—one 20"drill. 

1899 

88 

Flather fr Do Nashua,, N. H. 

Lathes—one 14" x 6' turret lathe. 

1899 

268 

Do .’. 

Lathes— odc 15" x 8' turret lathe. 

1899 

322 

1)0 . 

Shapers—one shaper. 

1899 

241 

Brown & Sharpe Manufacturing Co., 

Grinder.. 



Providence, R. I. 





Automatic holt-making machine_ 



Betts Machine Co., Wilmington, Del. 

Heavy vertical boring mill. 

1899 

3,276 




























118 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN DENMARK. 


Name of maker. 

Type and dimensions. 

When 

pur¬ 

chased. 

Price de¬ 
livered in 
Copen¬ 
hagen. 

Landis Tool Co.. Waynesboro, Pa. 

Threader—one grinding machine_ 

1899 

$670 

Warner & Swasey Co., Cleveland, Ohio ... 

Turret lathes—one turret lathe. 

1899 

509 

Springfield Machine Tool Co., Springfield, 

One 18" x 10' lathe. 

1906 

670 

Ohio. 




American Tool Co., Cincinnati, Ohio. 

Lodge & Shipley Machine Tool Co., Cin¬ 
cinnati, Ohio. 

Lathes—one 18" x 10' lathe. 

Radial drill. 

1906 

670 

Dreses, Mnller & Co., Cincinnati, Ohio_ 

Cincinnati Milling Co., Cincinnati, Ohio.. 

One 62" drill. 

One No. 3 Universal miller. 

1899 

402 

Davis A. F,ga.n Co. Cincinnati, Ohio. 

Lathes and drills—one 21" drill. 

1899 

107 

Do.'. 

Lathes and drills—one 28" drill. 

1899 

268 

Niles Tool Works, Hamilton, Ohio. 

Radial drill. 

1899 

1,206 


FOREIGN MACHINE-TOOL INSTALLATION. 

The following-named makes of machine tools were noted among 
those in use, the year of purchase and price paid being given in most 
cases. Dimensions when not otherwise indicated are given in milli¬ 
meters : 


Type and dimensions. 

When 

pur¬ 

chased. 

Price de¬ 
livered in 
Copen¬ 
hagen. 

Heavy 42" swing lathe, engine 

1899 

$2,814 

lathe, turret lathe, milling ma- 



chines, and planers—one 82" x 22' 



lathe. 



Horizontal boring niachine. 

1899 

1,179 

One 4,500 x 2,300 x 1,500 planer. 

1899 

2,680 

One 14" x 14' lathe. 

1899 

750 

One 14" x 8' lathe. 

1899 

322 

One 20" x 12' lathe. 

1899 

563 

One 16" x 8' lathe. 

1899 

375 

One 18" x 8' lathe. 

1899 

429 

Turret lathe. 

1899 

965 

Universal milling machine. 

1900 

831 

Planer milling machine. 

1900 

482 

Turret lathe. 

1906 

1,742 

Side planer and vertical drill—one 

1899 

750 

1,600 x 850 x 750 planer. 



Planers—one 3,000 x 1,200 x 1,000 

1899 

1,018 

planer. 



One 20" diameter lathe. 

1899 

2,171 

One 10" diameter lathe. 

1899 

911 

Horizontal boring and turning mill.. 

1899 

456 

Electric-driven, horizontal boring 

1908 

3, 752 

and milling machine. 



Vertical boring mill. 

1908 

1,608 

Cutters. 



Tool grinders. 



Double grinder. 



Slotters—one 200 x 400 slotting ma- 

1899 

643 

chine. 



One 400 x 700 slotting machine _ 

1899 

1,045 

Vertical boring mill and horizontal 



milling and boring machine. 




Name of maker. 


Nielsen & Winther, Copenhagen. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do.. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do... 

Billeter & Klunz, Aschersleben, Germany 

Franz Brann, Zerbst, Germany. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Dentsch e Werkzeugmachinenfabrik, 
Germany. 

Do. 

Ludwig Loewe, A. G., Berlin.. 

Mayer & Schmidt, Offenbach, Germany.. 

Naxos-Union, Frankfort. 

Ernst Schiess, Dusseldorf, Germany. 

Do. 

Sondermann & Stier, Chemnitz. 


A day’s work at the Atlas establishment comprises 10 hours. The 
shop opens at 6 a. m. in the summer and at 6.30 a. m. in the winter, 
and closes at 5.30 p. m. in the summer and at 5 in the winter. 

Nearly ail wages are on a piecework basis, a good machinist 
earning on an average about 5.50 crowns ($1.47) per day. Practi¬ 
cally all of the men in the shops are Danes, and it was stated that 
there is not much tendency on the part of the workmen to drift from 
shop to shop. At the time of the inspection about 350 men were 
employed, but when running at full capacity the force numbers ap¬ 
proximately 450. 

















































































RUSSIA. 

GERLACH & PULST. 

The firm of Gerlach & Pulst, of Warsaw, Poland, is undertaking 
to build machine tools in series. The full name and address of this 
firm, as written in Polish, is Akcyjore Towatzystwo Fabryski Masryn 
Gerlach i Pulst. 

The writer visited these shops on October 1, 1909, and was es¬ 
corted over them by General Director Bronislaus Zalenski, who 
afforded him every opportunity to study the conditions existing. 
This is one of the most important plants visited in Poland, and there 
need be no hesitation in saying that it aims to turn out machine tools 
of High merit. 

The original firm of Gerlach & Pulst came into existence in 1876, 
and in 1898 a limited company was formed, but within the past year 
a general reorganization has taken place. 

MODERN METHODS AND MACHINE TOOLS EMPLOYED-VARIED OUTPUT. 

Director Zalenski is a man with considerable experience in machine- 
tool construction and, to judge by the arrangements which were ob¬ 
served in the shops, he is apparently determined to follow the most 
modern methods and to utilize the best machine tools obtainable. 
It must not be forgotten that machine-tool houses have from time 
to time failed in Russia. Very few machine-tool building plants, 
it is stated, have succeeded, and the failure is attributed to the 
methods employed rather than to the lack of capital. Director 
Zalenski firmly believes that the success of the establishment at 
whose head he stands depends upon building in series and at the 
lowest possible cost. It is for this reason that he is more than willing 
to secure any machines that will enable him better to carry out series 
work and reduce the price of initial production. 

Owing to the relatively high duty on machine tools entering 
Russia, there are most favorable opportunities awaiting domestic 
machine-tool plants. The Russian authorities are naturally anxious 
to encourage such industries, and the facilities existing in Russia 
to-day are recognized as being unequal to the country’s demands. 

Director Zalenski states that the duty on machine tools coming 
into Russia is 4.20 rubles ($2.16) per pood (36 pounds). There are 
extra costs, Director Zalenski says, which in reality increase the duty 
roundly to 5 rubles ($2.58) per pood. 

Gerlach & Pulst are not yet able to confine their efforts to the 
building of only a few machines. The output of the shops at present 
comprises lathes, planers, vertical drills, milling machines, steam 
hammers after the Massey system, friction hammers, plate-bending 
machines, grinding machines, and bolt-cutting machines. Under the 
head of lathes are included turret lathes, and the firm is building the 

•119 



120 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN RUSSIA. 


Gisholt type of this machine. The lathes built embrace all classes, 
and probably more attention is being given to lathe production than 
to any one type of machine tool. They are built in series ranging 
from 10 to 50. Vertical drills are built in series of 10 for the large 
sizes and 25 for the small sizes. These vertical drills are referred 
to as being on the “American system.” Chucks for lathe use are 
bought by the firm and are largely confined to Whiton chucks. Nu¬ 
merous collections of castings, especially for vertical drills, were 
observed, leaving no doubt that these orders were being got out in lots. 

MACHINE TOOLS BUILT IN SERIES-AMERICAN GEAR CUTTERS PREFERRED. 

Director Zalenski is of the opinion that his firm is the only one in 
Russia that is undertaking to-day to build machine tools in series. 
In this connection attention is called to the author’s report on the 
Pneumatic Tool Works of St. Petersburg, which will show that at 
least one other firm visited is building after American methods. 

The standard engine lathes built by Gerlach & Pulst follow the 
general designs of the John Lang & Sons’ works, of Johnstone, Scot¬ 
land. In this connection, it may be added that the Gerlach & Pulst 
shops are operated to-day in a manner similar to the Lang works, 
and are largely patterned after the latter. [A description of the 
Lang shops will be found in the publication issued by the Bureau 
of Manufactures, entitled “ Machine Tool Trade in Germany, France, 
Switzerland, Italy, and the United Kingdom.”] Gear cutting is done 
on Biernatzki tools, as well as on American tools. The only other 
foreign type of tool used for gear cutting is a cone-gear cutter fur¬ 
nished by the Oerlikon Works, of Zurich, Switzerland. 

The attention of General Director Zalenski was called to the ex¬ 
perience of Mr. Lang in gear cutting when employing Brown & 
Sharpe, Gould & Eberhardt, and Biernatzki tools, which experience 
largely favored the employment of American gear cutters, Mr. Lang 
going so far as to say that for all ordinary work the two German- 
made hobbing machines (Wanderer and Biernatzki) sufficed, but if 
he wanted to gear a wheel to sell he would do the work on a Brown 
& Sharpe or a Gould & Eberhardt tool. One Reinecker gear cutter 
was also observed in service, but for the most part the gear cutting 
is on American tools. 

The castings for all of the machine tools built by this firm are 
made in its own foundry, which has a capacity for producing 150,000 
poods per j^ear. 

No better indication of the modern character of the Gerlach & Pulst 
Works can be afforded than the installation of machine tools observed. 
The shops fairly bristle with high-grade American tools. 

AMERICAN MACHINE TOOLS IN SERVICE. 

The American Tool Works Co., of Cincinnati, Ohio, has supplied 
no less than seven planers of the medium size, and these tools are 
highly spoken of. The Niles-Bement-Pond Co., of New York, has 
supplied from the Pond Works one planer having a length of bed 
of 10 meters, a width of 2J meters, and a height of 2,500 millimeters. 
The same company has supplied a planer from the Niles Works, of 



MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN RUSSIA. 


121 


Hamilton, Ohio. Bement, Miles & Co., of Philadelphia, have also 
supplied a planer, and here, as in many Austrian shops, it was found 
that Wm. Sellers & Co., of Philadelphia, had made sales direct. In 
this instance an engineer from Gerlach & Pulst, it is stated, personally 
visited the Sellers firm. 

Pratt & Whitney, of Hartford, Conn., furnished as late as last 
year several lathes, and Mr. Zalenski states that he purchased these 
tools direct from the Hartford firm. Throughout the shop Brown & 
Sharpe gages are employed. Gerlach & Pulst undertake to manu¬ 
facture many taps, and also buy taps and dies from Ludwig Loewe, 
of Berlin. One of the finest tools in the shops is from the Bement, 
Miles & Co. works, and has a length of bed of II meters. 

In the power house there are two engines, one of 200 horsepower 
and one of 75 horsepower, built bv Theodore Wiedes, of Chemnitz. 
The electrical fittings throughout have been supplied by Oerlikon, 
of Zurich, Switzerland. Electric power is utilized by Gerlach & 
Pulst for driving the machine shop and for lighting purposes. In 
the smithy German coke is largely used. It was stated that Russian 
coke contains too much sulphur to make it desirable. 

The following American machine tools were in use in the shops: 


Jones & Lamson Machine Co., Springfield, Yt_Turret lathe, ITarkness 


patent. 

Norton Grinding Co., Worcester, Mass_Grinder, 10" x 72". 

Pratt & Whitney Co., Hartford, Conn_Lathes. 

Niles-Bement-Fond Co., New York__Two lathes from the Pond 

Works, one planer from 
the Niles Tool Works, 
one heavy planer. 

Gould & Eberhardt, Newark, N. ,T_Gear cutters. 

Bement, Miles & Co., Philadelphia, Pa_One planer. 

Wm. Sellers & Co., Philadelphia_Tool grinders. 

American Tool Works Co,, Cincinnati_Five engine lathes, seven 

medium-size planers. 

Cincinnati Milling Machine Co., Cincinnati, Ohio_No. 1£ universal milling 

machine; tool grinders. 

Davis & Egan Co., Cincinnati_Lathes. 

Gisholt Machine Co., Madison, Wis_Grinder. 


Director Zalenski stated that the Jones & Lamson turret lathe 
(Ha rkness patent) was bought in 1909 and cost $1,905, delivered in 
Warsaw. One of the Pratt & Whitney lathes cost, delivered, $018, 
and the price of the Norton grinder, delivered, was $2,103. 


GERMAN TOOLS IN USE-ENGINE LATHES MANUFACTURED-WAGES PAID. 


There are many German tools in use. Among them were sensitive 
hand drills and a small grinder from De Fries & Co., of Dusseldorf; 
two horizontal boring machines from Zimmermann, of Chemnitz; 
a backing-off lathe and gear cutter from J. E. Reineeker, of Chem¬ 
nitz, and a slotter supplied by Selig, Sonnenthal & Co., of London. 
There are also many lathes which were manufactured by the firm 
itself. 

A Reineeker grinder was in service, but the statement was made 
that it was necessary to make changes in this tool. The opinion was 
freely expressed that American grinders are better than Continental 
makes. 












122 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN RUSSIA. 


The various standard sizes of engine lathes made at this establish¬ 
ment are as follows: 


Height of 
centers. 

Distance 

between 

centers. 

Price f. o. b. 
Warsaw. 

Millimeters. 

200 

250 

300 

350 

400 

500 

GOO 

800 

1,000 

Millimeters. 

1,250 

1.500 
2,000 

2.500 
3,000 
3,000 
3,000 
5,000 
5,000 

$283 to $1,287 
438 to 1,699 
554 to 2,060 
695 to 2,575 
1,287 to 3,090 






At the time of the inspection about 400 men were employed. A 
day’s work embraces nine hours, the works opening at 7 a. m. and 
closing at 5 p. m., with an intermission from 12.30 to 1.30 for dinner. 

Director Zalenski states that all work is paid for on a piecework 
schedule, but that as a rule the men employed at the various tools 
are paid as follows per hour, a few cases occurring, however, in which 
a little more is paid: 


Class of workmen. 

Cents. 

Class of workmen. 

Cents. 

Lathe men. 

20.6 

Blacksmiths. 

15.5 

Milling-machine men. 

17 

Porge men. 

19.6 

Turret-lathe men. 

15.5 

Foremen. 

10.3 

Drilling-machine hands ... 

15.5 

Laborers.. 

6.7 

Grinding-machine men. 

20.6 




The work on the lathes manufactured here appears to be strong and 
well finished. The spirit of the shops is so thoroughly progressive 
that there can be little question of the success of these works, pro¬ 
vided the cost of production can be kept down. The Russian terri¬ 
tory is an enormous one, and the machine-tool industry is decidedly 
in its infancy. With good management there is no reason why this 
firm should not develop and become a prominent factor in the Rus¬ 
sian machine-tool trade. The present shops are adequate for the work 
in hand, but it is apparent that any increases in orders will demand 
additions. This fact should not be lost sight of by the American 
machine-tool interests, for there is little doubt of the readiness of 
the management of this plant to secure all new machine tools possess¬ 
ing more than ordinary merit. 










K. RUDZKI & CO. 

The establishment of K. Rudzki & Co., of Warsaw, Russia, is rep¬ 
resentative of that class of Polish works which engage in the manu¬ 
facture of a general line of machinery. The full name and address 
of this plant is written in Polish as follows: K. Rudzki i Ska, 
Fabryka Machin i Odlewow, w Warszawie. The firm was founded in 
1858 and is a limited company. The present directors are: Edward 
Landie, banker; Casimir Jasinski, banker; Julian Eberhardt, en¬ 
gineer; and L. Schmidt and S. Wierzbicki, the latter two managing 
directors. 

































MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN RUSSIA. 


123 


The Rudzki Works are divided between two sets of shops, one lo¬ 
cated within the city limits and the other at Nowominsk. An inspec¬ 
tion was made October 2,1909, of the Warsaw shops, Engineer Stanis- 
law Majewski acting as escort. The shops were fairly busy, there 
being considerable work on hand. 

About 500 men were employed at the time of the visit; and at 
Nowominsk the total force was about 000. The latter shops are 
handling almost exclusively bridge work and shrapnel projectiles. 
About 200 men were then employed in the actual erecting of bridges. 
This force was from the personnel of the Warsaw plant. The main 
erecting shop is a building of modern construction and with modern 
framing for drive throughout. 

LINES OF WORK-MACHINE-TOOL EQUIPMENT. 

The general output of the Rudzki shops embraces bridges of all 
descriptions, pumps, railway frogs, complete waterworks for rail¬ 
ways and towns, armatures for waterworks and lifts, complete ar¬ 
rangements for gas works, heavy sluice valves and covers for street 
hydrants. The sluice valves are made in sizes ranging from 14 inches 
to 36 inches in diameter. The manufacture of railway frogs is an im¬ 
portant element at the Rudzki Works, and I am informed that the 
rate of output of steel frogs for railways has reached 45,105 poods 
per annum (1 pood=36 pounds). The street-hydrant covers made 
by the firm are designed so as to permit of the passage of heavy 
traffic. The firm has a complete foundry and makes all castings re¬ 
quired for its various outputs. There are a number of presses here 
which were made by this firm operating under 300 atmospheres pres¬ 
sure. 

The general workmanship evinced was excellent, and it was ap¬ 
parent that there were many good machinists in this plant. It w T as 
disappointing, however, to find hardly an American machine tool 
in service. The only exception noted was a Morgan bolt machine 
from the Reliance Machine Tool Company, of Cleveland, Ohio. 
Speaking broadly, the machine-tool equipment of these shops is of 
German origin. There were observed a horizontal borer from the 
English firm of George Richards & Co., of Broadheath, England, 
and a universal miller supplied by Selig, Sonnenthal & Co., of London. 
“ The Sundale.” There was an old lathe from Fetu-Defize, of Liege, 
and a number of tools from Gerlach & Pulst, of Warsaw, but aside 
from this enumeration all of the foreign tools noticed were of Ger¬ 
man make and included the following: Maschinenfabrik, Weingar- 
ten, screw presses; Zimmermann, Chemnitz, engine lathes, slotters, 
planers; Otto Froriep, Rheydt, lathes, universal millers, vertical 
drills; Habersang & Zinzen, Dusseldorf, multiple drill; Werkzeug- 
maschinenfabrik Union, Chemnitz, lathes; E. Bergmann, Berlin, 
lathes; Vulkan Maschinenfabrik, Chemnitz, facing lathes; Billeter 
& Klunz, Aschersleben, open side planer; Ernst Schiess, Dusseldorf, 
planer; Droop & Rein, Bielefeld, slotters; Wagner & Co., Dortmund, 
large planer. 

DIRECT AGENTS SECURE ORDERS. 

Zimmermann, of Chemnitz, has probably placed more tools in these 
works than any one German firm. Inquiry was made as to how it 
has happened that Zimmermann has been drawn upon so largely, 


124 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN RUSSIA. 


and the information was given that this German house maintains a 
representative in Warsaw, and that experience had shown that tools 
could generally be delivered by Zimmermann within two to three 
weeks after the placing of the order. It is evident that a firm like 
Zimmermann considers it worth while to maintain a direct agency 
here; and to judge by the number of Zimmermann tools in evidence 
throughout the Warsaw shops, the conclusion is inevitable that sell¬ 
ing arrangements are largely responsible for the presence of so many 
Chemnitz-made machines. 

Mention has already been made of the fact that American machine 
tools have been bought in Europe largely on their known merits. 
There are many shops, however, where American machine tools 
are not known, and at the Rudzki plants, for instance, where the 
workmen are proficient, the writer could not refrain from con¬ 
templating the increased facility which could be secured in many 
instances were some of the best-known makes of American machine 
tools utilized. 

The statement was made that this firm has had little or no experi¬ 
ence with American machine tools. This is important and is a fact 
that should be considered by American machine-tool builders. 

WELDING-WAGES-OUTPUT-RUSSIAN IMPORTS FROM GERMANY. 

This firm is employing acetylene gas for welding work and is hav¬ 
ing recourse to acetylene gas burners as supplied by the French 
firm Generateur Automatique d’Acetylene avec Evacuation des Resi- 
dus, Systeme Javal. The gasogen for use with gas machines is also 
of French make and is known as “ Gasogenefavel ” (Paris). Mr. 
Majewski says that they find this acetylene gas system very econom¬ 
ical for small work but not economical on heavy work. 

A good machinist at the Rudzki works earns on an average 3 
rubles ($1.55) per day. A good foundryman, I was informed, earns 
between 3 and 4 rubles ($1.55 and $2.06) per day. 

It is evident that these works aim to turn out high-class products, 
and in the writer’s opinion it is well worth the while of American 
‘machine-tool interests to keep in touch with a plant of such estab¬ 
lished reputation. 

It was stated that during the year 1908 the following quantities, 
given m poods, of the various articles were turned out: Water pipes, 
89,408; miscellaneous castings, 54,116; steel castings, 45,105; bridges, 
342,281; caissons, 20,481; roof girders, 26,062; railway turntables, 
2,700; reservoirs, 12,164; bridge cranes, 14,616; shells for the army, 
9,000 pieces; complete railway waterworks, 4 plants. 

The turnover for the j T ear 1908,1 am informed, was 3,735,415 rubles 
($1,923,739). 

The German machine-tool exports to European Russia for 1908 
amounted to a total of 3,141,800 kilos in weight (1 kilo=2.2 pounds. 
In 1907 Germany exported to Russia machine tools reaching a total 
weight of 2,219,000 kilos. 

In 1908 the German exports of machine tools to Finland amounted 
to a total weight of 351,700 kilos and in 1907 to 194,400 kilos. 

These figures are taken from the Imperial German statistics as pub¬ 
lished in 1909. 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN RUSSIA. 


125 


ROHN, ZIELINSKI & CO. 

One of the most important among the pump-making plants of 
Russia is that of the Warsaw firm, Rohn, Zielinski & Co. This es¬ 
tablishment was visited by the writer on October 2, 1909, under the 
personal guidance of Engineer Franciszek Zawodzki, who accorded 
him every facility for making a complete inspection. 

Steam pumps of the Worthington type form the greater part of the 
output, but radiators are also built. Every effort is made to modern¬ 
ize as far as possible the methods employed. All pump parts are 
made in series, and these parts, as fast as completed, are stored and 
are available for assembling as orders are received. In this pump 
construction much recourse is had to jigs, and this is one of the few 
shops the writer has seen in Poland where jigs are an important 
element. 

AMERICAN-MADE PUMPS COMPETE IN RUSSIA. 

The cost of labor is naturally much less in Poland than in America, 
but notwithstanding this fact it was said that Messrs. Worthington, 
of New York, are establishing the prices to be paid in Russia, and 
that the American pump is, in fact,' setting the pace for Russian 
manufacturers. This American firm is regarded as the strongest 
of the competitors the Russians have to meet. The Russian tariff 
on pumps, it would seem, does not bear so hard as on machine tools, 
and, according to Mr. Zawodzki, the duty on pumps coming into 
Russia is 3.20 rubles per pood (1 rubles51.5 cents and 1 pood=36 
pounds). Mr. Zawodzki, however, remarked that owing to the light 
weight of the Worthington pumps the duty collected is relatively 
small, and that Worthington has an advantage over Continental 
works that have to ship into Russia by rail. The opinion held by 
Mr. Zawodzki is that the sea freight paid on Worthington pumps 
is more favorable than the Continental rail rate. 

The statement w r as made that Rohn, Zielinski & Co. regard Worth¬ 
ington of America, Gardner of England, and C. Schwabe, of Erfurt, 
Germany, as the three firms which are offering them competition. 
These three firms, it was said, are making the cheapest quotations 
for pumps in Russia, and their prices have necessarily to be met by 
the Warsaw establishment. 

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE WORKS-SOURCES OF MATERIAL-SPECIALTIES. 

Rohn, Zielinski & Co.’s works have been in existence about four¬ 
teen years. The plant was originally designed for bridge build¬ 
ing, but was later transformed into a pump-making plant. At the 
time of this inspection about 300 men were employed. The pumps 
manufactured are mostly of the Worthington type and are designed 
for work at all pressures. Special pumps are manufactured, as 
boiler-feed pumps for high pressure. All material used in the build¬ 
ing of these pumps comes from Russia ;*that is to say, all of the metal 
work and the pump cocks, but various special mechanical attach¬ 
ments are bought from German houses. Lubricators come from 
London. It was observed that brass casings are used to cover that 
portion of the pistons exposed between the cylinders of higli-pres- 


126 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN RUSSIA. 


sure pumps, and it was stated that Rohn, Zielinski & Co. find it 
necessary to buy the brass piping in Germany. 

In the power-installation plant Wolf engines, of the type super¬ 
imposed on boilers, were installed. These engines come from Magde¬ 
burg, Germany. In this installation was noticed one engine made 
after the Wolf system by the firm of Orthwein, Karasinski & Co., 
of Warsaw. The coal used is of Russian origin, and costs about 
$5.25 per long ton. 

There is considerable demand in these shops for double helical 
gears. In cutting these gears there is a general recourse to the firm 
commonly referred to as Wlochy, located near Warsaw. The Wlochy 
firm possesses a machine for cutting double helical gears, which, 
according to Mr. Zawodzki, was the design of a workman by the 
name of Polanowski. The Wlochy establishment developed this idea, 
and now undertakes to cut helical gears ordered by other Russian 
firms. These double helical gears are for pump work, and are re¬ 
garded as much stronger and quieter than the ordinary gears. 

AMERICAN MACHINE TOOLS REQUIRED. 

The machine-tool installation comprises a number of American 
tools. The very fact that this firm is building pumps in series makes 
it advisable that recourse be had in certain instances to tools of 
American origin. German tools are in evidence, but not to the same 
extent noticed in other Polish shops. Wherever high-grade work is 
demanded, and especially series work, there is generally noted a de¬ 
mand for American tools. 

There are many old tools in evidence in this establishment and also 
ih others about Warsaw, which, while doing good work, might be 
replaced by machines more modern in type, and which would, no 
doubt, produce more economical results. Rohn, Zielinski & Co. recog¬ 
nize this full well, but they do not think it would pay to establish 
an American tool warehouse in Warsaw, declaring that they have no 
difficulty in obtaining American machine tools through agencies. 
The needs in this line of the Warsaw district suggest mutual ad¬ 
vantages for both the American machine-tool builders and the firms 
themselves. 

In the main machinery shops are the following American machine 
tools: 

Prentice Bros. Co., Worcester, Mass_Radial drill. 

Bickford Drill and Tool Co., Cincinnati_Radial drill. 

G. A. Gray Co., Cincinnati_Planer. 

Bement, Miles & Co., Philadelphia, Pa_Horizontal boring machine No. 550. 

Dreses, Muller & Co., Cincinnati_Radial drill. 

Davis & Egan Co., Cincinnati_.Radial drill. 

FOREIGN TOOLS IN USE-WORKMEN’S AVAGES. 

Among the foreign machine tools are the following: 

Ludwig Loewe, A. G., Berlin, vertical and horizontal millers, turret lathes; 
Sondermann & Stier, Chemnitz, shapers, lathes; Wilh. Scharmann, Rheydt, 
Germany, horizontal boring machine No. 1780; Deutsche-Niles Werke, hori¬ 
zontal borer; Hartmann, Chemnitz, lathes; M. Hasse & Co., Berlin, turret 
lathes; Kirchner & Co., Leipzig, wood-working planer; Schilling & Kramer, 
Suhl, Germany, horizontal boring machines with four spindles. 







MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN RUSSIA. 127 

The wages paid per hour to skilled workmen are as follows, values 
being given in kopecks (100 kopecks=l ruble=$0.515) : 


Class of workmen. 


Lathe men. 

Planer hands. 

Milling-machine men. 

Boring-mill hands. 

Grinding-machine men. 

Foremen, assembling department 


Kopecks. 

Class of workmen. 

50 

45 

40 

35 

45 

45 

Assembling-department hands_ 

Vise men, assembling department. 

Molders. 

Carpenters 

Pattern makers. 

Forge men. 



Kopecks. 


45 

45 

50 

25 

35 

40 


AMERICAN MACHINE TOOLS HIGHLY APPRECIATED. 

Mr. Zawodzki was asked to state if there was any fault to be found 
with American machine tools in service, having in mind European 
conditions and requirements, and to enumerate any criticisms. His 
reply was as follows: “ No fault was found with the American ma¬ 
chine tools in our service—no doubt that they are of best construc¬ 
tion, built of best material, and are most exact in service.” 

The work carried on at the Holm, Zielinski & Co. shops is of 
an especially high grade character. The writer frankly admits that 
he did not expect to find such excellent workmanship in the Warsaw 
district. There is good technical skill evinced here and a high degree 
of technical control. When one considers that this firm has to com¬ 
pete with experienced pump makers, like Worthington, it will be 
appreciated by machinery manufacturers that success depends wholly 
on being able to produce the manufactured parts at the lowest pos¬ 
sible cost. In the writer’s opinion this firm is essentially high class, 
and there is no denying that the equipment turned out from these 
shops is deserving of the highest consideration. 

BORMANN, SZWEDE & CO. 

The Bormann, Szwede & Co. works at Warsaw had at the opening 
of October, 1909, about 1,000 men employed. This is one of the lead¬ 
ing machinery plants of Poland. The full name and address is writ¬ 
ten in Polish as follows: Towarzystwo Akcyjne Zakladow Mechani- 
cznych Bormann, Szwede i S-ka, w Warszawie. Director Maurycy 
Bormann, was kind enough to show the writer over the plant. The 
location is within the city limits of Warsaw. The buildings are of 
brick construction throughout and cover about 355,000 square feet of 
ground. 

The output of Bormann, Szwede & Co. embraces steam engines, 
boilers, engine fittings, valves, pumps, blowers for sugar works, and 
general equipment for sugar refineries and distilleries. The firm 
builds a standard type of steam engine for sugar works. In addition 
it undertakes to construct, more as specialties, complete installations 
for sugar refineries, distilleries, alcohol refineries, etc. All fittings 
and equipment necessary for boilers are manufactured by the firm, 
and without recourse to others. 

The organization of the firm dates from 1875. The works 
were founded under the name of Guillaume Hoecke in 1818 as a 
copper-boiler establishment, and they were the most important in the 


























128 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN RUSSIA. 


country. They engaged in making equipment for sugar works, dis¬ 
tilleries, and breweries of that period. In 1864, after the death of 
the founder, the works were purchased by Teau Troetzer, and then 
undertook the building of steam engines and many machine tools. 
About 1875 the plant was taken over by two young engineers, Mau- 
rize Bormann and Alexander Szwecle, and they secured at the same 
time considerable more ground. In 1900 this establishment became 
a limited company with a capital of $927,000, divided into 3,600 
shares of $257.50 each. The company is under the actual control of 
three directors. 

FIRST-CLASS WORK-AMERICAN TOOL EQUIPMENT. 

The work in the Bormann, Szwede & Co. plant is first class through¬ 
out, and Mr. Bormann indicated his desire to acquire at all times the 
very best grade of machine tools. This readiness was evinced by the 
number of excellent American machine tools already in the shops. At 
the same time several German machine tools were recognized, and 
the impression was gained from Mr. Bormann that often these Ger¬ 
man tools were purchased because they were more readily available. 
Pie gave it as his opinion that there is sufficient business m the War¬ 
saw district to warrant the maintenance of a well-stocked American 
machine-tool wareroom in the district. He referred to the large in¬ 
crease in mechanical work throughout Poland, and especially in the 
Warsaw and Lodz sections. The latter town, it should be borne in 
mind, is often referred to as the Birmingham of Poland. Mr. Bor¬ 
mann expressed the opinion that American machine tools were not 
sufficiently available for the wants of the district. 

Among the American machine tools in evidence was a vertical tur¬ 
ret lathe from the Baush Machine Tool Company, of Springfield, 
Mass., which was purchased about a year ago from Messrs, de Fries, 
of Dusseldorf. Shapers have been supplied by the John Steptoe 
Shaper Company, of Cincinnati, and are especially liked by Mr. 
Bormann, as is also a radial drill from the Bickford Drill and Tool 
Company, of Cincinnati. Mr. Bormann said, however, that the 
radial drill which he is at present using is too small and that it will 
be necessary for him to put in a larger-sized tool. The Bradford 
Machine Tool Company, of Cincinnati, and also the It. K. LeBlond 
Machine Tool Company, of Cincinnati, have furnished a number of 
lathes, but many of those in use are of German or Polish origin, and 
it is noteworthy that many of the German lathes were without manu¬ 
facturers’ names. 

In the boiler shop the work is largely hand work and tools are not 
in evidence. 

FOREIGN TOOLS-PRICES PAID FOR MACHINE TOOLS. 

Among the foreign machine tools in service are the following: 

Chemnitzer Maschinenfabrik, planer; De Fries & Co., Dusseldorf, lathes; 
Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik Union, Chemnitz, lathes, horizontal borer; Gerlach 
& Pulst, Warsaw, lathes, radial drill; Ludwig Loewe, A. G., Berlin, lathes; 
Zimmermann, Chemnitz, bolt-heading machine, engine and pit lathe, vertical 
miller, boiler plate punch machine, and boiler plate riveting machine; Augsburg, 
Nuremburg, planer; Fielding & Platt, Manchester, plate-bending machine^; John 
Hetherington & Sons, Manchester, horizontal boring machine. 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN RUSSIA. 


129 


Transportable hydraulic riveters are in service, and there are at 
least three heavy rivet-making machines installed which are the 
design and build of the Russian firm. 

In the Bormann, Szwede & Co. shops, in common with other Polish 
shops inspected heretofore, recourse is largely had to cutters from the 
Austrian firm of Gebriider Bolder. 

The prices paid for some of the machine tools in service delivered, 
duty paid, in Warsaw, are as follows, dimensions when not otherwise 
indicated being given in millimeters: 




When 

Price de- 

Name of maker. 

Type and dimensions. 

pur- 

livered in 


chased. 

Warsaw. 


AMERICAN. 


Baush Machine Tool Co., Springfield, Mass.. 

Walker Grinder Co., Worcester, Mass. 

Bickford Drill and Tool Co., Cincinnati. 

Bradford Machine Tool Co., Cincinnati. 

John Steptoe Shaper Co., Cincinnati. 

R. K. LeBlond MachineTool Co., Cincinnati. 
Wilmarth Morman Co., Grand Rapids, Mich. 


Vertical lathe 760.. 

No. 1 machine. 

Radial drill W. B. 3 


1908 

1908 

1907 


Lathe,200 x 1.420.... 
Shaping machine 16" 
Lathe, 180 x 1,015.... 
One tool. 


1908 

1908 

1908 


SI, 421 
345 
1,091 
693 
445 
543 
128 


FOREIGN. 


Henry Berry, Leeds, England. 

J. Hetherington & Sons, Manchester. 

C. Word, Birmingham. 

Leed & Hunt, Nottingham, England. 

Le ProgrSs Industriel, Loth, Belgium. 

De Fries & Co., Dusseldorf, Germany. 

Hartmann, Chemnitz. 

Ludwig Loewe, A. G., Berlin. 

Otto Froriep, Rheydt, Germany. 

Werkzeugmasctiinenfabrik “Union,” 
Chemnitz. 

Zimmermann, Chemnitz. 


Double drill. 

Flanging machine. 

Triple drill. 

Drill No. 21. 

Circular saw. 

Lathe, 250 x 1,500. 

Lathe, 250 x 2,000. 

Lathe, 180 x 1,500. 

Lathe, 370 x 7,000. 

Lathe, 200 x 1,420. 

Shaping machine, 450 x 1,750 
Lathe, 210 x 1,500. 


Planer, 1,200 x 1,200 x 3,000 
Planer, 1,000 x 1,000 x 5,000 
Planer, 1,850 x 1,500 x 7,000 
Lathe, 350 x 2,500. 


1905 


2,117 

1,854 

5,616 

420 

1,090 

935 

958 

628 

1,736 

670 

953 

721 


1,892 
1,030 
3,605 
1,030 


WORK AND WAGES-OUTLOOK CONSIDERED EXCELLENT. 

A day’s work in the Bormann, Szwede & Co. shops comprises nine 
hours. The shops open at 7 a. m. and close at 5.30 p. m., with an 
interval from 1 to 2.30 p. m. All work is paid for on a piecework 
basis, and good tool men, Mr. Bormann states, earn from $1.55 to 
$1.80 per day. Ordinary workmen will earn only 77 cents to $1.29 
per day. Laborers receive on an average 52 to 62 cents per day. 

Director Bormann is a man of broad views and large experience. 
He is fairly optimistic regarding future conditions in his section, 
and realizes that all that is necessary to insure the success of Polish 
shops is good equipment and proper shop control. He recognizes 
that Russia possesses practically all of the elements necessary for 
machinery construction, and that works like his are favored by 
a strong protective tariff much like the United States tariff. He 
sees no reason why industrial plants should not thrive in Polish 
Russia, provided a'fair modicum of that good judgment essential to 
all business success be exercised. His firm is endeavoring to do first- 
class and honest work, and American machine-tool interests will do 
well to keep in touch with an establishment so progressive as this one. 


H. Doc. 913, 61-2-9 



















































130 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN RUSSIA. 


PNEUMATIC TOOL COMPANY. 

The history of machine-tool works in Russia has, for the most part, 
been one of failure. Numerous instances can be cited of works es¬ 
tablished both with Russian and with foreign capital, and for the 
most part they either have not succeeded or have had indifferent 
success. 

It would be presumption on the part of the writer to assume to 
explain offhand the cause of these failures, but from the best in¬ 
formation he can obtain he is strongly inclined to believe that they 
have been largely due to the methods followed in manufacturing. 
This opinion has been reenforced by observations made in various 
machinery shops in Russia. The Russian workman is doubtless ca¬ 
pable of as good work as men of any nation on the Continent of 
Europe. In several essentials he is better than the men of some coun¬ 
tries, for the Russian will stick to a tool and become thoroughly 
expert in its handling. Wages are not high, and practically all ma¬ 
terial necessary for machine-tool building is obtainable within the 
country. The tariff accords a fair amount of protection to Russian 
machinery enterprises, and in the matter of orders one has only to 
consider that this is a country covering approximately one-fifth of 
the land surface of the globe, and containing a population of more 
than 150,000,000. In the St. Petersburg district alone it is esti¬ 
mated that there are fully 225,000 men engaged in mechanical lines. 
These figures were furnished by Mr. Ludwig Nobel of the Nobel 
Works, who is probably in as good a position to make estimates of 
this sort as any man in Russia. 

And yet, with all of the elements existing for machine-tool enter¬ 
prises, such establishments have not flourished. It would seem as if 
it has remained for American enterprise, American skill, and Ameri¬ 
can direction to blaze the way, as it were, in this great Russian 
territory. 

AN ESTABLISHMENT ON AMERICAN LINES. 

The works of the Pneumatic Tool Company, of St. Petersburg, 
were visited by the writer October 4, 1909. At the head of this estab¬ 
lishment is Mr. John K. Lencke, a native American and a former 
superintendent of the Q. & C. shops of Chicago, Ill. Everything 
that Mr. Lencke know T s in the mechanical lines he learned in some of 
the best American shops, and the works which he has established in 
St. Petersburg are distinguished from a thriving up-to-date American 
plant only by the presence of Russian workmen and the fact that the 
shops stand on Russian soil. The full name and address of this 
company is the Pneumatic Tool Company, W. O. IT, Line No. 6, 
St. Petersburg, Russia. 

The firm w^as originally established in consequence, the writer was 
informed, of representations made from Russian sources that a plant 
of this sort wmuld be highly desirable; in other words, afford to 
government shops an opportunity to draw on tools made within 
-Russian territory. Mr. Lencke says that his first knowledge of the 
Russian territory came from a visit on his part as a representative 
of the Q. & C. Company, of Chicago. He associated himself at 
the outset with Russian interests, but found it desirable later to 
assume sole control, wLich he has held since 1906. 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN RUSSIA. 


131 


One can not enter these works without being impressed at the out¬ 
set with the strong individuality of the American at its head. With 
the exception of John K. Lencke and one English workman, there 
is not a native English-speaking man in the place; all the others are 
Russians. One entire afternoon was spent inspecting the works, and 
later a whole evening was passed in company with Mr. Lencke study¬ 
ing the workmanship of these Russian machinists. Many of these 
men do not know, perhaps, that they are working as close as would 
be demanded of our best American machine-tool hands, but Lencke 
is requiring no standard short of the superlative obtained in Ameri¬ 
can shops. lie is using Brown & Sharpe and Pratt & Whitney gages 
throughout. 

MACHINE TOOLS PRODUCED AT LOW COST—METHODS. 

It would probably surprise some American manufacturers to look 
over the cost sheets for various parts, as shown on Lencke’s books. 
The writer does not feel at liberty to make any mention on this sub¬ 
ject, but will say that pneumatic tools are being produced in Russia 
at figures far below prices in the United States. In the matter of 
orders this St. Petersburg plant is unable at present to turn out suf¬ 
ficient tools for the demand. During the past three years the business, 
according to the - statements exhibited, has been most profitable. Mr. 
Lencke says that 25 per cent of the price received for a tool is suffi¬ 
cient to cover all selling expenses. The standard prices charged for 
tools of the Pneumatic Tool Company are, he states, the same as those 
charged by leading American houses. 

Whatever has been the history of machine-tool building in Russia 
in the past, the Lencke shops in St. Petersburg are demonstrating 
that a plant run on strictly American lines, following up-to-date 
American methods, can command a splendid business to-day in Russia. 
It was no surprise upon entering these shops to find that practically 
all the tools in service are of American origin. 

It is the practice in these shops to keep all of the tools for making 
any one part in a separate box. When a workman undertakes to make 
any particular machine part, he takes the box containing the necessary 
tools and turns in his name. This is only one feature, small in its 
way, which Lencke taught, and which he himself learned in American 
shops. 

All of the tool castings made here are cleaned with sand blast, and 
these shops, it is said, were probably the first works in Russia to 
utilize sand for cleaning. The sand-blast machine employed is from 
C. Drucklieb, New York City. The drop forgings in use were sup¬ 
plied by J. H. Williams & Co., of Brooklyn, N. Y. Mr. Lencke 
pointed out one German tool which he had been induced to take from 
a German selling house in lieu of an American tool for which he had 
asked. It was stated, he said, that the American tool could not be 
delivered within reasonable time. Mr. Lencke avers that the repre¬ 
sentation was made to him that this German tool was the equal of 
the American. “At any rate I took the machine,” he said, “ only to 
discover that it was not up to standard.” 

Mr. Lencke states that pneumatic tools were first installed in 
Russia at the Newsky Works. This was in 1899. The Newsky 
plant is working about 4,000 men, and one branch of the business is 
shipbuilding. 


132 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN RUSSIA. 


ENGLISH AND GERMAN COMPETITION. 

At the present time the shops of the Pneumatic Tool Company are 
engaged in the manufacture of pneumatic tools, but it is proposed to 
undertake shortly the manufacture of the Hendey type of lathe. Mr. 
Lencke authorized the statement that he estimates that the Hendey 
type of lathe with 16-inch swing and 8-foot bed can be manufactured 
in St. Petersburg for $230. It should be borne in mind that in giving 
information of this character Mr. Lencke is actuated by the desire 
to assist American machine-tool interests, and he declares that what 
he has accomplished in the machine-tool line can be effected by other 
machine-tool houses who care to enter the Russian field. There is 
only one English house that can be regarded as a possible competitor 
in Russia. This is Alfred Herbert (Limited), of Coventry. Herbert 
can be set down as a strong competitor in all countries outside of the 
United States, both by reason of the excellence of the output and the 
fact that Herbert tools are sold as a rule only by Herbert’s men. It 
is the writer’s observation that competition on the part of Herbert, 
while keen, may be regarded at all times as fair and aboveboard. 

Aside from English competition, American machine tools in Rus¬ 
sia have to encounter only German products. Those German houses 
which are worthy of consideration as competitors have been men¬ 
tioned from time to time. For the most part, much of the German 
importation is in the nature of machines, especially in the medium 
sizes, inferior in both quality and working capacity to the best Ameri¬ 
can tools. 

THE AMERICAN TOOL EQUIPMENT. 

The excellent equipment of these shops in the line of American 
machine tools will be observed from the following list of the tools 
in service: 


Name of maker. 


Type and dimensions. 


When 

pur¬ 

chased 


American Tool and Machine Co., Boston, 
Mass. 


No. 1 oil separator 


1902 


Price 
delivered 
in St. 
Peters¬ 
burg. 


Sill 


Hulbert-Rogers Machine Co., South Sud¬ 
bury. 

J. E. Snyder & Co., Worcester.. 

Morse Twist Drill Co., New Bedford. 

Prentice Bros. Co., Worcester. 

Washburn Shops, Worcester. 

Browne & Sharpe Manufacturing Co., Provi¬ 
dence, R. I. 

Diamond Machine Co., Providence. 

Chas. Parker & Co., Meriden, Conn. 

Dwight Slate Machine Co., Hartford. 

E. D. Quint, Hartford. 

Hendey Machine Co., Torrington. 


Henry G. Thompson Co., New Haven. 

Whitney Manufacturing Co., Hartford. 

Bundy Time Recorder Co., Binghamton, 
N. Y. 

C. Drucklieb, New York... 

Cataract Tool and Optical Co., Buffalo. 


3-inch accelerated cutting-off ma- 1905 

chine. 

25-inch vertical drill. 1899 

Twist drills. 


477 

360 


4-epindle vertical drill. 

Twist-drill grinder. 

No. 11 automatic grindingmachine. 

No. 2 universal milling machine_ 

Gages. 

Emery grinder. 

-do. 


1902 

1899 

1899 

1899 


1902 

1905 


26 different-sized parallel vises. 

No. 2 full automatic gear cutter_ 

3-spindle sensitive drill. 

8-spindle turret vertical drill. 

Lathe, 14" x 6'. 

-do. . 

Lathe, 14" x6'.. 

-do. 

-do. 

1 hack saw (Tool No. 125). 

Wet tool grinder. 

Time recorders. 


1902 

1899 
1905 

1900 

1901 
1901 
1901 

1903 
1909 
1899 


248 

106 

734 

875 


45 

49 


412 

206 

314 

463 

479 

463 

463 

525 

56 

77 


Sand-blast machine 
Bench lathe. 


1901 




















































MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN RUSSIA. 


133 




Name of maker. 

Type and dimensions. 

When 

pur¬ 

chased. 

Price 
delivered 
in St. 
Peters¬ 
burg. 

American Gas Furnace Co., Elizabeth,N. J.. 

Soldering iron oven. 

1900 

$13 


No. 2 gas forge. 

1899 

103 


No. 16 oven furnace. 

1899 

103 


No. 4 oven furnace. 

1899 

191 


Cvanide furnace. 

1900 

77 


High-pressure blower. 



Landis Tool Co., Waynesboro, Pa. 

No. 2 universal grinding machine . 

1899 

772 


No. 3a universal grinding machine. 

1904 

1,287 

\\ illiam Sellers A Co., Philadelphia. 

No. 1 special tool grinder. 

1905 

1, 339 

American Tool Works Co., Cincinnati, Ohio.. 

14" sensitive drill.. 

1900 

104 


.do. 

1901 

72 


.do. 

1901 

72 


.do. 

1903 

72 


.do. 

1904 

72 


.do. 

1904 

72 


.do. 

1905 

83 


13" sensitive drill. 

1903 

67 

Bradford Machine Tool Co., Cincinnati.. 

Lathes. 




Lathe 18" x 8'. 

1899 

476 

Cincinnati Milling Machine Co., Cincinnati. 

Universal tool grinder. 

1902 

309 


.do. 

1909 

345 

Cleveland Automatic Machine Co., Cleve- 

2" full automatic. 

1904 

1,251 

land. 

|" full automatic. 

1905 

843 


p" full automatic. 

1905 

1,053 


2 ~" full automatic. 

1905 

1,369 

Oster Manufacturing Co., Cleveland. 

4" gas-pipe cutter and threader ... 

1907 

165 

R. K. LeBlond Machine Tool Co., Cincin- 

Lathes . 



nati. 

Lathe 16" x 6'. 

1899 

438 

Springfield Machine Tool Co., Springfield.. 

15" crank shapers. 

1899 

330 

Warner & Swasey Co., Cleveland. 

Hexagonal turret 2". 

1902 

1,493 


.do. 

1904 

1 , 370 


No. 2 turret. 

1902 

384 


.do. 

1903 

398 


No. 5 turret. 

1899 

713 


.do. 

1903 

868 


.do. 

1904 

824 


No. 1 turret. 

1906 

368 


.do. 

1906 

368 

Chicago Machine Tool Co., Chicago, Ill_ 

Speed lathe 10" x 4'. 

1902 

71 


.do..*. 

1903 

73 


.do. 

1905 

75 

Q. & C. Co., Chicago. 

No. 4 shop saw. 

1899 

60 

Kempsmith Manufacturing Co., Milwaukee, 

No. 12 plain milling machine. 

1904 

710 

Wis. 

No. 2 plain milling machine. 

1905 

890 

Greenerd Manufacturing Co. 

No. 31 arbor press. 

1902 

51 






FOREIGN TOOLS EMPLOYED. 

Among the foreign machine tools in use are the following, the 
prices paid, including delivery in St. Petersburg: Alfred Herbert, 
(Limited), Coventry, England, No. 3, hexagonal turret lathe, 3-inch, 
purchased in 1901 for $1,805; Mekaniska Verkstad, Koping, Sweden, 
plain milling machine, 190*2, $160; Schuchardt & Schiitte, Berlin, 
plain milling machine, 1901, $296; Churchill & Co., Manchester, No. 
3 Smith slotting machine, 1906, $779. 

Aside from the American tools employed in gear cutting it was 
noted that all gears were cut on tools bought from Churchill, and 
carrying only his name. The taps and dies used in these shops are 
made by Lencke. 

The motive power employed is a 50-horsepower gas engine of the 
Korting type, for which a Korting gas producer is installed. Lencke 
is also using a Pintsch gas producer for service in connection with 
the gas furnace and for the blacksmiths’ forges, but the main gas 
furn ace in use is from the American Gas Furnace Company, Eliza¬ 
beth, N. J. 














































































134 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN RUSSIA. 


All of the malleable-iron castings used by Lencke in the construc¬ 
tion of tools come from the Sestrorezk Works. This plant, Mr. 
Lencke declares, is the only one is Russia that can supply the quality 
of malleable-iron castings which Americans would regard as suit¬ 
able for machine tools. Mr. Lencke further states that the Ses¬ 
trorezk malleable iron is, in his opinion, better even that the ordi¬ 
nary run of United States malleable iron. 

WAGES AND WORKMEN-AMERICAN OPPORTUNITY. 

The number of men employed when working under maximum con¬ 
ditions is 156. The wages paid per hour are, in kopecks, as follows 
(100 kopecks=1 ruble=51.5 cents) : 


Class of workmen. 

Kopecks. 

Class of workmen. 

Kopecks. 

Lathe men. 

20 to 22 
20 to 22 
18 to 20 
18 to 20 
15 to 22 

Foremen. 

35 to 40 
10 to 25 
10 to 12 
15 to 20 
15 to 30 

Planer hands. 

Milling-machine men. 

Assembling-department hands. 

Vise men. 

Boring-mill hands. 

Carpenters.: 

Grinding-machine men. 

Pattern makers. 




With reference to the value of the Russian workman as a machinist, 
Mr. Lencke states that with a little exertion plenty of men may be 
found who are both diligent and temperate. On the whole, he has 
found that the Russian is capable of learning mechanical work 
quicker than workmen of other nations with whom he had experience 
when in Chicago. He has found it possible to teach Russian work¬ 
men to work within limits which were difficult to obtain at home. 

Mr. Lencke was asked to state his impressions regarding the op¬ 
portunities for American machine-tool manufacturers to extend their 
business within Russian territory, and also if he finds it possible to 
obtain American machine tools with facility under present arrange¬ 
ments. Mr. Lencke declares it is his impression that if several 
American manufacturers would associate themselves and establish a 
selling agency at St. Petersburg or Moscow and furnish the selling 
agency with a large stock of different tools so that the same might be 
immediately delivered to the customer, a very large business could 
be done in Russia. As it is now, he says, Germany is much closer 
than America. Besides, the German shipping facilities are much 
better, with the result that when an order is given for a machine the 
German can always outclass the American on account of the long 
time required to bring the tool from the United States. 

SINGER SEWING MACHINE WORKS. 

The new Singer Sewing Machine Works at Podolsk, Russia, afford 
a striking object lesson of what can be accomplished in the manu¬ 
facturing line in this great territory by following American methods. 
The works have been in existence for about eight years, and in 
October, 1909, were employing approximately 2,000 men. Although 
the rate of output is already astonishingly large, new buildings were 
going up so that within a few months the facilities for production 
will be greatly augmented. 

The Russian plant of the Singer Sewing Machine Company is, in 
the writer’s opinion, unexcelled in Europe in point of equipment and 





















MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN RUSSIA. 135 

shop efficiency. This statement is made advisedly and after having 
inspected several hundred of the best European shops. 

UNDER AMERICAN MANAGEMENT. 

Upon the occasion of a visit made at these works in October by the 
writer. Director W. F. Dixon acted as a personal escort and accorded 
every facility for an inspection. Mr. Dixon is an American citizen 
whose home is in Paterson, N. J. He acquired his technical mechan¬ 
ical knowledge in the Rogers Locomotive Works of that city, and in 
1895 was sent to Russia by an American syndicate to build and equip 
locomotive works at Sormovo. These works are on the west bank of 
the Volga and are distant from Nizhni Novgorod five miles. 

The American interest in these shops was subsequently sold to a 
Russian company. Mr. Dixon first prepared tentative designs, made 
at least two trips between Russia and the 'United States, and finally 
secured approval at St. Petersburg, and the shops were erected. To¬ 
day the works at Sormovo are second only in importance to the 
Kolomna locomotive shops. Mr. Dixon stated that the entire ma¬ 
chine-tool equipment for the Sormovo Works was dispatched to 
Russia in a specially chartered steamer. The point of unloading was 
St. Petersburg. He w r as in active charge of the locomotive building 
at the Sormovo plant when he was engaged to take charge of the new 
works in Russia for the Singer Sewing Machine Company. 

Podolsk is a town due south of Moscow, distant about 27 miles. 
It lies on the through Moscow-Crimea Railway. Having been se¬ 
lected for the site of the new Singer plant, ground was broken in 
June, 1900. 

The Podolsk plant is so essentially American throughout that one 
almost feels upon entering it that he is back in the United States. 
It would seem as if the Podolsk plant, as a highly efficient and com¬ 
plete American establishment, had been transferred bodily to the 
steppes of Russia. To describe the equipment of the Podolsk shops 
is merely to give a resume of what the directors of all American 
works are accustomed to find at home. The machine tools are from 
the best American houses. Mr. Dixon is as much in touch with the 
American machine-tool trade as if the shops were located in Paterson, 
instead of in Podolsk. 

THE BUILDINGS, WORKING FORCE, AND GENERAL EQUIPMENT. 

The various buildings are constructed of steel, concrete, and brick 
throughout, having been erected with a view to long life, and are as 
nearly fireproof as possible. Iron doors are in use all over the place, 
and Otis freight elevators afford communication between all floors. 
Wooden floors exist in some of the shops, but Mr. Dixon explained 
that he hopes to substitute for these wooden floors a form of concrete. 
Fire plugs are indicated throughout the shops by red painted shingles, 
standing out at right angles to the walls with red lamps over them, 
so that they can be readily located day and night. Mr. Dixon ex¬ 
plained that when a fire broke out some time ago, and the rooms filled 
with smoke, it was difficult to locate the fire plugs and hose racks. 
The red painted boards and red lamps are intended to meet any such 
contingency in the future. 

The central power station comprises American-built engines of the 
tandem and cross-compound types, directly connected to electric 


136 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN RUSSIA. 


generators. The firing of the boilers is exclusively with crude oil, 
the cheapness of which in Eussia is a strong argument in favor of 
the utilisation of oil-motor engines. The Diesel type of engine is 
very much in evidence in parts of Eussia, and it appears that Mr. 
Dixon is considering the advisability of installing internal-combus¬ 
tion engines in connection with further extension of the plant. 

The present force of 2,000 men promises to be greatly increased 
within the next few years, and it need not be surprising if the number 
of men at Podolsk will before long be doubled. There are not at 
present more than seven English-speaking people at the Podolsk 
plant. Mr. Dixon’s associates are either from England or from 
Scotland. 

All work turned out is built to gage, and is interchangeable with 
the parts produced by the Singer Sewing Machine Company in the 
United States and the Singer plant near Glasgow. The mere state¬ 
ment of the fact that all parts are interchangeable between shops 
is sufficient to indicate that there is only one standard followed for 
the various Singer works. The Eussian workmen at Podolsk are 
working to one one-thousandth part of an inch. 

RUSSIAN WORKMEN UNDER AMERICAN MANAGEMENT. 

It would seem as if the relations between the Singer management 
in Podolsk and the workmen have been exceptionally satisfactory, 
and Mr. Dixon has a good opinion of the Eussian machinist. He 
declares that after learning the workings of a machine the Eussian 
will stick to the tool and become an expert, evincing no particular 
desire to pass from one machine to another, as is the case with work¬ 
men of certain Continental countries. When the Eussian machinist 
has learned his tool he becomes a most valuable man, and Mr. Dixon 
stated that the Eussian machinist not only can, but in the case of 
the Podolsk shops does, work to exactly the same gage standard as 
in the United States. The men taken on at Podolsk have been, for 
the most part, young fellows. They are accorded the best of treat¬ 
ment and an absolute certainty of pay. The advent of the Singer 
shops in this district has afforded not only a livelihood for many 
families, but has been a source of general contentment. 

Only one policeman is in evidence at the yards, and little or no 
occasion exists for his services. Asked if he had any trouble with 
strikes, Mr. Dixon said that on the occasion of the troubles through¬ 
out Eussia in 1905 there was a tendency to act in sympathy, as it were, 
with outside movements, but the men soon returned to work and 
there has never been any recurrence of the sort. It is difficult for 
Americans who have not been in Eussia to appreciate the tact and 
skill demanded in this territory. It would seem, however, as if a 
man of the type of Director Dixon is just what is needed to bring out 
the best in the Eussian workman. Mr. Dixon is optimistic regarding 
Eussian conditions; he believes in the Eussian workman, and knows 
his value. 

Eussian law, Mr. Dixon declared, insures ample protection, and the 
relation of the works with various administrative officials is all that 
can be desired. 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN RUSSIA. 


137 


Having in mind the excellent work being accomplished in St. 
Petersburg by the Pneumatic Tool Company, an American institution, 
Mr. Dixon was asked if he considered the Russian territory offered 
opportunities to American machine-tool manufacturers to establish 
plants there. He pointed out the fact that practically every such 
establishment that had been started in recent years in Russia had 
either failed or engaged in some other line. Among these may be 
mentioned works at Kharliof, Moscow, and on the Black Sea. From 
what can be learned it seems that these shops did not undertake to 
specialize, and did not understand the term “ shop efficiency,” as 
known in America. 

Facts of this sort have previously come to the attention of the 
writer, who had strongly suspected that much of the difficulty was 
due to the manufacturing methods employed. In consequence of 
the investigations made at the Pneumatic Tool Works in St. Peters¬ 
burg, and the Singer plant in Podolsk, the writer’s views have, in 
effect, been more or less confirmed that the trouble has not been 
through any lack of business, but rather with the methods employed 
in manufacturing. It would seem as if the constant trade in Russia 
is with private plants. The Pneumatic Tool Company and the 
Singer Sewing Machine Company appeal directly to the Russian 
people. The former company also has to do with government works, 
but in the main its business is with private works. 

There is one American plant near Moscow which was erected 
largely through assurance of government railway orders. The 
recent war made it impracticable for this business to go forward, 
and in consequence the American company found it advisable to take 
on a new line of output in the shape of engines for installation plants, 
and it is stated that the business in this line is very satisfactory. 

ESTABLISHING MACHINE-TOOL WORKS IN RUSSIA. 

Mr. Dixon was asked if, in his opinion, it would be safe to indicate 
to American manufacturers that the establishing of works in Russia 
is well worth consideration. He replied, in effect, that he believes 
such a course fully warranted, provided judgment is exercised with 
reference to the type of tools manufactured for the Russian market. 
In Mr. Dixon’s opinion there is a good market in Russia for Amer¬ 
ican machine tools, and a plant erected to build some of the good 
solid tools, other than exact machines of the universal miller type, 
should do good business here. He seemed to think especially that 
machines of the type of the Snyder drills, or the former Woodward 
& Powell planers, would find an excellent outlet in Russia. 

The organization of the Singer works stands as a Russian com¬ 
pany and as such is entitled to the same treatment as other com¬ 
panies of the Russian Empire. 

With reference to the selling of American machine tools in Russia, 
Mr. Dixon seems to think that American firms are making a mistake 
in handing the business over to foreign agents, and especially to 
agents who are not Russians. He also referred to the tendency of 
American manufacturers to take care of the foreign trade only when 
times are bad in America, and declared that bad treatment often 
drives the European to take machines of Continental make. 


138 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN RUSSIA. 


THE MACHINE-TOOL EQUIPMENT. 

There are a number of machine tools installed here which are of 
the special make of the Singer Sewing Machine Company. These 
tools include machines for making special types of dies and for run¬ 
ning out special work in one operation. In this list of special 
machines are a number of grinders of the make of the Singer com- 
pany. 

Among other American machine tools in service in the Podolsk 
works tools from the following firms were noticed: Stockbridge 
Machine Tool Company, Worcester, Mass.; Whitcomb-Blaisdell Ma¬ 
chine Tool Company, Worcester, Mass.; Woodward & Powell Planer 
Company, Worcester, Mass.; Brown & Sharpe Manufacturing Com¬ 
pany, Providence, P. I.; Farrell Foundry Company, Providence, R. I.; 
Bullard Machine Tool Company, Bridgeport, Conn.; Pratt & Whit¬ 
ney Machine Tool Company, Hartford, Conn.; E. W. Bliss Company, 
Brooklyn. 

With few exceptions all material entering into the construction of 
the Singer sewing machines is secured in Russia. The firm makes 
its own taps and dies, but with this exception buys practically all its 
equipment in the United States. Both the Singer works and the 
Pneumatic Tool Company plant are employing American methods 
to clean small casting. While the latter firm has recourse to sand¬ 
blast machines, the Singer works are using tumblers. 

In discussing the general Russian field with Mr. Dixon, more 
especially as regards the market for American machine tools, he said 
that it should be borne in mind that the tendency in Russia is to 
centralize manufacturing into large works, and he cited especially 
plants like the Poutiloff Works, of St. Petersburg, employing 8,000 
men; Kolomna Works, near Moscow, employing 8,000 men; the 
Nefsky Works, of St. Petersburg, employing 1,000 men, and the Sor- 
movo locomotive shops, as built by Mr. Dixon, employing 6,000 men. 

The principal manufacturing sections of Russia where machine 
tools would find a market are in and around St. Petersburg, Mos¬ 
cow, Warsaw, Odessa, the Ural country, and the Donetz mining dis¬ 
trict in the south. 


J. A. SEMENOFF. 

The works of J. A. Semenoff, which are located at Pesotschnaje 
No. 6, St. Petersburg, contain many high-grade American machine 
tools of medium sizes. I visited the plant on October 6, 1909, and 
was personally shown over the works by Mr. Semenoff and Engineer 
Stephen S. Gulanitzky. The latter has*had experience in the United 
States and is quite familiar with a number of the best American 
shops. Mr. Semenoff visited the United States at the time of the 
St. Louis Exposition, and in consequence of that trip purchased many 
American machine tools. In the majority of cases where foreign 
directors have come in actual contact with American machine tools 
the result has been advantageous to American manufacturers. 

The Semenoff shops have been in existence for about twelve years, 
and are wholly owned by Mr. J. A. Semenoff, who commenced busi¬ 
ness, it is stated, in a comparatively small way. About 300 men are 
employed at present. To judge from the busy appearance of the 


machine-tool TRADE IN RUSSIA. 


139 


shops, it was unnecessary to ask if business was good. I was assured 
that there was a large number of orders in hand. 

PRINCIPAL OUTPUT-MODERN METHODS EMPLOYED. 

The Semenoff shops are engaged largely in the manufacture of 
cigarette and cigarette tube making machinery. A large number of 
highly machined parts is demanded for such machines, and these 
parts the Semenoff concern is manufacturing in series. All parts are 
absolutely interchangeable. In addition to the foregoing, the firm 
undertakes to build several special machine tools, and in the list are 
two types of cam machines, one for working off surfaces and one for 
disk cams. At present the Semenoff shops turn out a special machine 
for boring long bearings in frames, starting both ends at once, and 
are also building automatic weight machines under Popoff’s patent. 
Ihe Semenoff plant will undertake shortly to build the Prentice type 
of lathe. The frames of the cam-making tools are patterned largely 
on Brown & Sharpe lines, but both milling and copying arrangements 
are claimed to be original in design. 

The cigarette-making machines are built both for the Russian 
trade and for export, and the principal countries drawing on these 
machines are Austria-Hungary and Germany. Single machines have 
been shipped to the Azores, to South America, and to the United 
States. 

The workmen are supplied with complete drawings for all parts, 
and the methods throughout the shops are patterned largely after 
those in vogue in the best American plants. Mr. Gulanitzki, chief 
of the drafting department, has introduced a principle of separate 
drawings for each piece, standard drawing sizes, and standard parts 
in machinery designed, with a classification of drawings based on the 
Dewey decimal classification. 

In the manufacture of the cigarette-making machines the Semenoff 
shops use soft steel, purchased from the Crucible Steel Company of 
the United States. This steel, which is declared to be better than 
German steel, is employed for all parts under 1J inches in size. Jigs 
are employed to a considerable extent, and Mr. Semenoff knows to a 
fractional part the cost of producing all parts of his machines. 

Up to January, 1909, the Semenoff shops had turned out 1,491 
cigarette and cigarette tube making machines. As a side issue they 
are now building a carriage for a Russian dirigible balloon. The 
latter is government work. 

The cam-making tools have pleasing lines, possess undoubted 
merit, and are strong in construction. Only one size is made, and 
at first glance the tool might be taken for one of Brown & Sharpe’s 
make. Mr. Semenoff states that he designed this tool because of the 
absence on the general market of any special machine for making 
guide surfaces or guide grooves on cams. Such work, he pointed out, 
is, as a rule, approximately made by milling machines and finished 
by hand. The difficulty, according to Mr. Semenoff’s idea, has been 
to secure an equal-wearing working surface with an absence of shock, 
and the latter can be secured only when the roller is bearing uninter¬ 
ruptedly throughout its length. Notwithstanding that extensive 
means have been employed up to this time in cam-making work, Mr. 
Semenoff feels that the desired results have not been secured. In the 


140 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN RUSSIA. 


working of the new cam machine, the milling cutter moves in similar 
manner as the roller will later actuate on the cam surface. In this 
machine the copying arrangement on the table is combined with a 
special movement of the table itself, and it is found that when a new 
cam is completed on this tool it immediately satisfies all demands 
without recourse to hand finish. 

Practically all taps and dies are purchased from America, although 
some purchases are made from Germany. The great majority of 
the files, however, come from England, with a few from French 
sources. 

CHARACTER AND SOURCE OF TOOLS IN SERVICE. 

There are no less than 16 lathes in service from the Prentice 
Brothers Company, of Worcester, Mass. It is this type of lathe 
which the Semenoff shops will undertake to build. Brown & Sharpe 
tools are very much in evidence, and there are also a number of 
Pratt & Whitney tools. Mr. Semenoff stated that he generally buys 
Brown & Sharpe and Pratt & Whitney tools direct from the manu¬ 
facturers. 

During the course of my inspection I observed that a German ma¬ 
chine of recent make had been dismounted and was undergoing a 
general overhauling. The machine was a special lathe for cutting 
threads and had been purchased from a well-known German selling 
house. The machine had been sold to a Russian customer, by whom 
the tool had been turned over to the Semenoff shops in order to make 
the same good. 

Practically all the gears cut in these works are handled on Brown 
& Sharpe and Gould & Eberhardt tools. However, one machine 
built by the Semenoff plant was turning off elliptical gears. All 
castings come from Russian sources. 

One spindle lathe from an American firm, which had only recently 
entered the shops, had not yet been mounted. Another late arrival 
was a No. 1 universal milling machine from Brown & Sharpe. Four 
Gray planers are in service, and it was stated that the Semenoff 
shops would like to secure another planer of this make. In addition, 
there is one new Prentice lathe that has just come in. It is apparent 
that Mr. Semenoff is purchasing machine tools right along. The 
Semenoff shops are employing many cutters of their own make, 
and these are made from steel supplied by the Crucible Steel Com¬ 
pany. Brown & Sharpe cutters are also used. 

The motor power for drive in the shops is supplied by a Diesel 
motor engine of 75 horsepower, built by the Nobel Works, of St. 
Petersburg. Many of these Diesel motors are in use in northern 
Europe, and especially in Scandinavia. 

The Semenoff shops are housed in a handsome, modem structure, 
fitted with more conveniences than one is accustomed to find in 
European establishments. The elevators were supplied by the Lem- 
erick Works, of St. Petersburg, and are of a type familiar in many 
American machinery works. 

PRICES PAID FOR AMERICAN AND FOREIGN TOOLS. 

In the following table is given a list of the American tools in 
service in the Semenoff shops. The type and dimensions of the tools, 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN RUSSIA 


141 


the date of purchase, and the price paid for each delivered in St. 
Petersburg are given in cases where such data were available. 


Name of maker. 


Millers Falls Co., Millers Falls, Mass. 

Fitchburg Machine Tool Co., Fitchburg .. 

Prentice Bros. Co., Worcester .. 

I)o. 

do. 

Morse Twist Drill and Machine Co., New 
Bedford. 

Faneuil Watch Tool Co., Boston. 

Brown & Sharpe Manufacturing Co., Prov¬ 
idence, R. I. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

do.;■ 

Do. 

Whitney Manufacturing Co., Hartford, 
Conn. 

Pratt & Whitney Co., Hartford. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Hendey Machine Co., Torrington. 

Do. 

Do. 

Seneca Falls Manufacturing Co., Seneca 
Falls, N. Y. 

Gould & Eberhardt, Newark, N. J. 

Landis Tool Co., Waynesboro, Pa. 

Cincinnati Milling Machine Co., Cincin¬ 
nati, Ohio. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

G. A. Gray Co., Cincinnati. 

Do... 

Lodge & Davis Machine Tool Co., 
Cincinnati. 

Lodge & Shipley Machine Tool Co., 
Cincinnati. 

Do... 

Sebastian Lathe Co., Cincinnati. 

Warner & Swasey Co., Cleveland. 

Do. 

Cleveland Twist Drill Co., Cleveland. 

Stoever Novelty Works. Freeport, Ill. 

Gisholt Machine Co., Madison, Wis. 

Hisey Machine Tool Co. 

Bement Machine Co. 


Type and dimensions. 

When 

purchased. 

Price. 

Cold-saw machine. 



Spindle lathe. 



11 lathes, 6 x 30 ". 

1894-1906 

8305 

Lathe 7£x38". 

1900 

650 

11 lathes 6 x 48 ". 

189.5-1906 

450 

Twist drills. 



Grinder for interior work. 

1905 

575 

No. 00 milling machine. 

1904 

250 

9 No. 0 milling machines. 

1902-1907 

450 

2 No. 2 milling machines. 

1904 

800 

No. 2a universal milling machine.. 

1904 

1,100 

No. 2b milling machine. 

1903 

750 

No. 3 milling machine. 

1904 

900 

Gear-cutting machine. 

1904 

1,000 

2 No. 11 grinders. 

1901,1902 

625 

No. 3 tool grinders. 

1904 

263 

2 No. 6 keyway slotting machines_ 

1902,1907 

263 

2 No. 2 turret lathes. 

1901,1902 

550 

No. 1 turret lathe. 

1904 

725 

Centering machine. 

1904 

175 

Cutting-off machine. 

1904 

500 

5 punch lathes. 



4 turret lathes. 



Lathe 7 x 38". 

1899 

487 

Lathe 20x40". 

1900 

850 

3 16-ineh shapers. 

1894-1903 

400 

Machine, 5 x 35". 

1900 

300 

Gear cutter. 

1900 

685 

No. 1 grinder. 

1907 

1,000 

3 No. la machines. .. 

1900 

950 

No. 1 machine. 

1900 

665 

Tool grinder. 

1900 

350 

No. 1 universal miller. 



2 planers, 8'. 

1901,1904 

1,150 

2 planers, 5'. 

1907 

900 

Lathe, 7 x 42". 

1896 

275 

Lathe, 8 x 50". 

1906 

600 

Lathe, 16". 



Lathe, 7 x 36". 

1896 

275 

4 No. 2 machines. 

1906 

485 

3 No. 1 machines. 

1906 

317 

Twist drills. 



2 machines, 30 ". 

1895 

50 

Special tool grinder. 



Machine_~. 

1906 

65 

Slotting machine. 

1899 

725 


A list of some of the foreign tools in use at the plant is given in the 
following table, along with the type and dimensions of the tools, 
the date of purchase, and the price paid for each delivered in St. 
Petersburg: 


Name of maker. 

Type and dimensions. 

When 

purchased. 

Price. 

Robert Getz, Russia. 

Seven lathes, 7"x26"and ll"x38".. 
Three lathes, 9"x25". 

1890-1892 

1893 

1893 

1907 

1891,1907 

1890 

1894 

1894 

1894 

1894 

1895 

8125 

200 

188 

88 

113 

188 

475 

225 

475 

50 

123 

Do..'. 

Goldberg, St. Petersburg. 

Lathe. 

Skavrnnski St. Petersburg . 

.do. 

Tsesavrevich Nicholas School of Trade... 
Unknown . 

Three lathes. 

German lathe. 

Frisfer A Rossma.n Oermany. 

One 6" x 35" lathe. 

Do .*. 

Two lathes. 

Do . 

Two 2' lathes. 

Do . 

Two grinders. 

Do. 

One 8" drill press. 






































































































































142 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN RUSSIA. 


Name of maker. 

Type and dimensions. 

When 

purchased. 

Price. 

Prptpr At T?ossrrmn Germany 

Two German grinders. 

1906 

$75 

Do 

Four German grinders. 

1894-1905 

38 

Do 

Two German milling machines. 

1894 

650 

Leipziger Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik. 

Lathe.. 

1905 

375 

Pitt.ler Leipzig 

.. .do. 

1896 

413 

H W iViird C'n Ttirminghnm England 

. .do. 

1906 

365 

Na xns-TTnion Germany 

Grinder. 

1899 

60 

Lndwig TiOPWp (rPrmany 

Russian polishing machine. 

1906 

75 

Do.. 

German 11" shaping planer. 

1903 

335 

Do.. 

German 4' shaping planer. 

1907 

650 

Do 

English 4.5'planer. 

1907 

700 

'Rprnp'hard Fischer Germany 

One 20" driil press. 

1894 

288 

Sipmpns A TTalske Germany 

Drill press. 

1907 

75 

Do.... 

German 4-spindle 27" drill press. 

1899 

250 

Do 

German 20" drill press. 

1895 

288 

Do. 

German 2-spindle 30" drill press. 

1904 

150 

Do. 

German radial 10" drill press. 

1906 

190 

Do.... 

Three Russian 3' planers. 

1891-1893 

250 






The Semenoff Works have also built several machines for their own 
use, the cost of which was as follows: One milling machine for mak¬ 
ing cams, $750; two milling machines for making cams, $375 each; 
three grinders, $50 each. 

SHOP EFFICIENCY-WAGES-OPINION OF AMERICAN TOOLS. 

The Semenoff shops are keeping well up with modern practice 
in shopwork. I called the attention of Mr. Semenolf to the 
general practice in America of obtaining figures bearing on shop 
efficiency, and on the usual basis of calculating this he estimates their 
shop efficiency at about 2,000 rubles ($1,000) per man per year. 

The wages paid in the Semenolf shops are as follows, per day: 


Class of workmen. 

• 

Wages. 

Class of workmen. 

Wages. 

Lathe men and planer hands .... 

$1.75 to $2.25 

Carpenters. 

$0.75 to $1. 00 

Milling-machine men. 

.75 to 1.13 

Pattern makers. 

1.13 to 1.75 

Grinding-machine men. 

.75 to 1.25 

Forge men. 

1.00 to ... 

Foremen. 

Assembling-department and bor¬ 
ing-mill hands, and assembling- 
department vise men. 

2.00 to 2.75 

.75 to 2.25 




In view of the wide experience of Mr. Semenoff with regard to 
machine tools, and especially with regard to European conditions, I 
requested him to state his views as to the relative merits of American 
and Continental-built machines, particularly with reference to 
medium-sized machines for series work. He replied, in effect, as 
follows: 

The appearance of American machine tools on the European market, has been 
of high importance and influence. The distinctive character is a perfect adap¬ 
tability to all practical needs, both for quick manipulation and rapid and pre¬ 
cise work. Year by year American machines are expelling German ones. A 
slight defect noticeable in American machines, speaking generally, is that single 
pieces are not often heavy and strong enough for Russian workmen, who are 
not always as intelligent and handy as American workmen. 

Mr. Semenoff gives his personal attention to the control of the 
shops and spends much of his time in designing. He is essentially 
an engineer who believes in conducting his work after the most ap¬ 
proved modern methods. The constant growth of his shops attests 
strongly to the wisdom of the polic}^ pursued. 














































































NETHERLANDS. 

WILTON ENGINEERING AND SLIPWAY COMPANY. 

The Wilton shipyards at Rotterdam were employing in November, 
1909, about 1,800 men. Both night and day work were then in 
progress. The full name of this establishment is Wilton’s Engineer¬ 
ing and Slipway Company. This plant is one of the best known in 
Holland for marine repair work, but ship and engine building work 
is also undertaken. 

The Wilton works are the exclusive property of five Wilton broth¬ 
ers. The eldest is Mr. Bartel Wilton. The present plant is a‘ devel¬ 
opment from a small blacksmith shop started in 1854, in one of the 
side streets adjacent to the docks of Rotterdam by the late B. Wil¬ 
ton, father of the present owners. 

GROWTH OF ESTABLISHMENT. 

This shop enjoyed from the first a reputation for excellent work, 
and, as a natural sequence, it became necessary to enlarge the plant. 
Mr. Wilton added to his first business boiler making, and in the 
course of time entered the realm of shipbuilding. In 1875 Mr. 
Wilton secured a piece of land close to the river Maas and here 
developed a landing for steamers for general repair. At the Maas 
plant there were installed a boiler-fitting shop, brass foundry, pat¬ 
tern shop, joiner’s shop, and a shipbuilding yard. From the first it 
was the policy of Wilton’s yard to do work well and quickly, and it 
is said that Mr. Wilton could always be found at 6 o’clock each morn¬ 
ing among the workmen. Two of the sons were trained in English 
shipj^ards, and Mr. Bartel Wilton has seen service at sea in the 
engineering department. 

The present works were established about five years ago, and three 
weeks after the stone had been laid for the first new building Mr. 
B. Wilton died. The control of the plant thenceforth devolved 
upon his sons, and the present active head is Mr. Bartel Wilton. 

This establishment appears to be especially well adapted to under¬ 
take repair w T ork. It is provided with a marine railway capable of 
hauling out vessels of 5,000 tons and a dry dock capable of lifting 
vessels of 8,000 tons. The boiler shops permit of handling boilers of 
17 feet 3 inches diameter, designed for 200 pounds steam pressure. 
The works are fitted up with electric traveling cranes of 40 tons’ 
power. Hydraulic equipment is utilized for riveting, bending, and 
flanging piates. 

Lately a forge department has been fitted up, equipped for han¬ 
dling general steamer repair work. Shafts 16 inches in diameter have 
been turned out from these works. Electric welding is resorted to 

143 


144 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN NETHERLANDS. 


and has been found to be very economical. The system in use was 
developed by the Wilton brothers. So far as was learned, there are 
no better facilities in Rotterdam for general repairing than at 
Wilton’s. The spirit at these* works is progressive, and directors are 
seldom met who are more keenly alive to modern requirements than 
the Wilton brothers. 

APPRECIATION OF AMERICAN MACHINE TOOLS. 

On the subject of machine tools, Mr. Bartel Wilton declared that 
it is his opinion that American machine tools are, broadly speaking, 
preeminently in the lead. The question of price, he said, was largely 
a controlling element with him. In the inspection which was made 
of the shops, only two American machine tools were found in use, 
an engine lathe from the R. Iv. LeBlond Machine Tool Company, of 
Cincinnati, Ohio, and a small grinder from the Walker Grinder 
Company, of Worcester, Mass. Naturally, at a shop such as Wilton’s 
one does not expect to find many of the medium-sized machine tools, 
such as are required for very exacting work, as, for example, in 
automobile construction. At the same time Wilton’s are undertak¬ 
ing to turn out high-class engines, and for some of this engine build¬ 
ing they require modern tools of undoubted merit. It is in such ma¬ 
terial that the directors of Wilton’s are naturally interested. There 
is no question that the workmanship of this plant is first-rate, and the 
speed is excellent. Many of the machine tools in use are of English 
origin. There are also some German tools in evidence. The imports 
of machine tools into Netherlands from Germany in 1908 amounted 
to 1,169,800 kilos (kilo=2.2 pounds), as compared with 1,175,000 
kilos in 1907. The imports from Germany into the Dutch East Indies 
amounted to 1,198,000 kilos in 1907 and only 158,700 kilos in 1908. 

SOURCES OF FOREIGN MACHINE-TOOL EQUIPMENT. 

Fielding & Platt, of Manchester, England, have supplied flanging 
machines. Wm. Muir & Company, of Glasgow, Scotland, are in evi¬ 
dence with cutting tools. De Fries of Dusseldorf, Germany, has in¬ 
stalled probably more tools than any other one firm. The Walker 
grinder was bought from De Fries. In use near it is a tool grinder of 
De Fries’s make. Among the machines supplied by De Fries are 
heavy lathes, motor-driven and with chained belts for short connec¬ 
tions ; tool grinder, planers, horizontal boring machines, radial drills, 
and millers. It is said that these De Fries tools are manufactured at 
the Dusseldorf shops. The De Fries radial drills are cutting steel of 
English manufacture. 

Ernst Schiess, of Dusseldorf, has supplied punches and shearing 
machines, and Fielding & Platt hydraulic riveters. D. New, of Lon¬ 
don, and Thomas Shanks, of Johnstone, Scotland, supplied plate-edge 
planing machines, and Droop & Rein, of Bielefeld, Germany, have 
supplied slotters. Additional slotters have been secured from East- 
brook & Allgarde, of Sheffield, England. In addition to the above 
equipment there are a number of English lathes in service. 

Other tools in use are cold saw machines from Noble & Lund 
(Limited), of Newcastle; lathes from F. &. J. Butterfield & Co. 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN NETHERLANDS. 


145 


(Limited), Keighley, near Leeds, England; and wood-working ma¬ 
chines from A. H. Schiitte, of Cologne. Transportable electric drills 
are in service for boiler and ship work. Pneumatic tools are used 
in the docks and slipways and in the shops. 

RAW MATERIAL IMPORTED-PRICES PAID FOR MACHINE TOOLS. 

Most of the steel that is worked up into equipment here is of Sie¬ 
mens-Martin quality, and is obtained for the most part from Ger¬ 
many. It is the practice at the Wilton yards to buy blooms direct 
from Germany. In working up forgings, however, about 80 per cent 
of scrap iron is utilized for shafts, etc. In common with other Dutch 
plants, the Wiltons find it necessary to import all raw material, and 
this material is secured partly in Germany and partly in England, 
but the greater part comes from Germany, inasmuch as it is cheaper. 
The German material is delivered at the yard by canal boats. 

The coal used comes from the Westphalian mines and from the 
English east coast, and costs about $8 per ton. It is declared, how¬ 
ever, that much of the German coal is found to be more economical 
than British east coast coal. 

The following-named prices were paid in recent years by the 
Wiltons for the machine tools mentioned: 


Name of makers. 

Type of tools. 

When 

pur¬ 

chased. 

Price de¬ 
livered 
in Rot¬ 
terdam. 

De Fries & Co., Dusseldorf. 

5' planing machine. 

1909 

$3,618 
8,040 
2,010 
884 

Do. 

Double-bed shafting lathe. 

1909 

Do. 

Radial drilling machine. 

1908 

Do... 

12" center spindle lathe. 

1909 

Walker Grinder Company, Worcester, Mass. 
LeBlond Machine Tool Co., Cincinnati, Ohio. 
Noble <k Lund Newcastle England. . 

Grinding machine. 

1909 

1,005 

302 

.. .do. 

1909 

Band-sawing machine. 

1905 

1,005 

2,110 

2,010 

965 

Thomas Shanks, Johnstone, Scotland. 

18' plate edge planing machine.... 
Mast plate bending machine. 

1909 

James Bennie . 

1909 

Rush worth Co., Sowerby-Bridge, England.. 

Beam-bending, horizontal punch¬ 
ing, angle-cutting machine. 

1909 


SHOP EFFICIENCY-WAGES PAID. 

The Wilton works are keeping up with the most modern practice 
in shop works. In view of this fact the attention of Messrs. Wilton 
was called to the general practice in America of obtaining figures 
bearing on shop efficiency. On this basis Messrs. Wilton estimate 
their shop efficiency at $844.20 per man per year. 

Lathe men and planer hands receive 10 cents per hour; foremen, 
32 cents; and molders, 9 cents. 

One is impressed at the Wilton shops with the great amount of 
personal attention that is given to the control of the shops. Mr. 
Bartel Wilton actually lives within the works, having recently built 
a home for himself within the confines of the yards. All of the 
brothers have been educated with a direct view to participation in the 
business. Two of them are essentially engineers; a third is charged 

H. Doc. 913, 61-2-10 


























146 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN NETHERLANDS. 


with traveling for the firm, and two others undertake the supervision 
of the commercial branch. 

The constant growth of the Wilton yards attests strongly the ex¬ 
cellence of their work, and this development is in itself the firm’s 
strongest recommendation. 

SMULDERS SHIPBUILDING AND ENGINEERING WORKS. 

The Smulders yards at Schiedam, just outside of Rotterdam, were 
working at the time of my visit (November, 1909) about 800 men. 
The full name and address of this plant is Werf Gusto, Firma A. F. 
Smulders, Schiedam-Rotterdam, Holland. Mr. F. Smulders, one of 
the partners, accorded the writer every facility for inspecting the 
shops. 

The Smulders plant was located at Schiedam about five years ago, 
but the firm has a history extending over a period of nearly fifty 
years, starting originally as a small works in Bois-le-Duc, under the 
direction of the late A. F. Smulders. The firm originally undertook 
the repair of steam engines and the construction of sriiall mechanical 
equipment. After eight years’ existence in Bois-le-Duc the establish¬ 
ment, owing to its increase in importance, was transferred to Utrecht, 
where it was known for years under the name of the Utrecht Iron 
Foundry and Engine Works. 

Shortly after locating in Utrecht, the Smulders undertook to manu¬ 
facture dredging apparatus for shore work, and later constructed 
dredges for harbor and river work. It was realized that the firm 
labored under a disadvantage in not having a shipbuilding plant in 
connection with the Utrecht work, and in consequence of the increase 
in the dredging business, the firm bought out the yard known as the 
Industry, situated in Slikkerveer. A short time previous the boiler 
works of Rensan & Co., at Grace-Berleur, near Liege, had been pur¬ 
chased by Messrs. Smulders. 

ESTABLISHMENT AND EXTENT OF NEW PLANT-MODERN EQUIPMENT. 

It will be seen that the firm possessed boiler shops, shipyards, and 
engine works, all in separate localities. A natural disadvantage arose 
owing to the separation of the different departments, and in conse¬ 
quence it was decided to center all at one point. With this object in 
view the Smulders secured ground on the river Maas, at Schiedam, 
and in 1903 commenced the erection of the present works. 

The area covered by the Smulders plant at Schiedam embraces 
60,000 square meters (1 square meter = 1.196 square yards). The 
yards are in the form of an irregular quadrangle, and are bordered 
by the river Nieuwe Maas and the Eastern Harbor. The shipbuild¬ 
ing slips have been built along the western side of the yard and are 
all constructed on piles. The outermost of these slips has a breadth of 
15 meters (1 meter = 1.09 yards), and can be enlarged to a length of 
180 meters; the other slips have breadths of 10 meters. All slips are 
situated in such a manner that vessels can be launched directly into 
the river Maas, with 9 meters depth of water available at the launch¬ 
ing point. 


Ftg. 24.—Interior view of shipbuilding hall, Smulders Works. 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN NETHERLANDS 


147 


\ 












148 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN NETHERLANDS. 


Seldom has the writer found works built with more regard to pleas¬ 
ing effect and to the comfort of the workmen than the new Smulders 
shops. The buildings are not only substantial in construction, but 
in many particulars may be described as ornate. The most modern 
appliances have been utilized to insure the comfort of the men and 
good sanitation. The blast system for the furnaces and the heating 
throughout is after the system of the Buffalo Forge Campany, of 
Buffalo, N. Y. 

There are two main buildings at the Smulders yards devoted to 
machine work, and the machine-tool installation is necessarily found 
in these structures. Each of these main buildings is 140 meters long 
and 52 meters w T ide. The main office building is 30 meters long. 
Each of the main buildings is divided into three sections; in other 
words, a center building with two bays. The central hall has a 
breadth of 25 meters, and the width of each bay is 13J meters. These 
buildings are all fitted with electric traveling cranes and connected 
with railways. 

ELECTRIC POWER AND LIGHTING-APPRECIATION OF AMERICAN TOOLS. 

The power plant is equipped with two direct-connected engines, 
each having an output of 168 kilowatts, and also 250-kilowatt 
dynamos. Vertical compound engines, two of 350 and one of 250 
indicated horsepower, drive these dynamos. Foundations have been 
built for new engines, which it is expected will be required later. The 
current supplied from this station is 440 volts, and for lighting pur¬ 
poses this is divided into 2 by 220 volts. 

In the eastern building there are five driving shafts each fitted 
separately and driven by its own motor. These shafts supply the 
power to the various machine fools. There are five electric traveling 
cranes in service in the east building, two of 15 tons and three of 5 
tons lifting capacity. 

The machine-tool installation comprises many American tools of 
high grade. There is the usual proportion of less recent English and 
Belgian tools and a small number of German tools, but Mr. Smulders, 
in speaking with the writer on the subject of American and foreign 
machines, said that the only objection he had to American machine 
tools was the price. 

Mr. Smulders was asked to make some statement based on his 
experience with American and Continental tools, especially in refer¬ 
ence to any defects apparent to him in American types, and having 
in view Continental needs. He has kindly made the following mem¬ 
orandum regarding his general view of American machine tools: 

I consider American machine tools very suitable, generally. They are well 
designed, and in the hands of a skillful machinist and with proper tools they 
turn out a good deal of work, especially when quantities of the same pattern 
are to be produced. As a rule, however, they are not worked to their utmost 
capacity, the speed being kept too low. 

An inconvenience is caused by the long and somewhat uncertain term of de¬ 
livery, so that, as a rule, we are compelled to take a machine which happens 
to be in stock at one of the agencies. Another difficulty is experienced in 
obtaining spare parts; these are seldom to be found in stock at this end and 
consequently we have to pay very high, and, in some cases, prohibitive prices. 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN NETHERLANDS. 


149 


CHARACTER OF OUTPUT-COALING VESSELS A SPECIALTY. 

The work carried on in the Smulders yards is confined largely 
to the building of steam, seagoing dredges; tugboats; gravel and 
bog dredges; coal-mining dredges; hopper and suction dredges; 
elevators, either fixed or floating, with single or double bucket chain; 
electrically driven elevators; coal elevators; steam hoppers; universal 
barges; excavators for canal and railway cutting; excavators for re¬ 
moving mounds; tugboats combined with suction and force pump; 
steamers of different degrees of horsepower; floating docks of the 
self-docking type, with independent pont tool, or of other systems; 
cranes, fixed and floating; patented coaling vessels; and steam pile¬ 
driving installations. 

There are hardly any important government undertakings to 
which the Smulders plant has not contributed in recent years exca¬ 
vating equipment, including the Panama Canal. This firm has ex¬ 
ported material to Russia, Belgium, Italy, Denmark, Portugal, 
Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, Tunis, Argentina, Siam, and China. It is 
doubtful if there are other firms in existence in Europe with a more 
extensive and varied knowledge regarding dredging and excavating 
work than the Smulders concern. 

The Smulders firm is making a specialty of building coaling ves¬ 
sels. These vessels are self-propelling and have a hold which is 
divided into compartments by means of transverse bulkheads. One 
of these harbor coaling vessels has a capacity of 1,000 tons. By means 
of sliding doors the coal compartments empty themselves successively 
into buckets of the conveyor, which runs in a tunnel over the vessel’s 
keel. The end of this conveyor, or bucket chain, is driven up by one 
of the two engines, which also propel the twin screws. Before 
reaching the upward bend, to pass on to the latter, elevator fashion, 
they run over an automatic weighing machine, and the coal is 
automatically weighed throughout the operation. The coal is hoisted, 
elevator fashion, and is delivered to the bunkers through a tele¬ 
scopic chute. As it is possible to make the chute as long as required, 
bunkering can be effected from a rather great distance. It is even 
possible to bunker the offside bunker ports or a steamer in a floating 
dock. It is stated that there is an output from these coaling vessels 
of over 250 tons of coal per hour. One great advantage secured is 
that the coal is not exposed to the air while passing from the lighter 
to the bunkers, and there is thus obviated the usual accompaniment 
of dust and dirt. 

One of these coaling vessels was at work at the time of my visit, 
on the opposite side of the harbor. Mr. Smulders had just returned 
from an inspection, and was apparently very much pleased with the 
service. 


CHARACTER AND PRICES OF AMERICAN MACHINE TOOLS. 

In the eastern building the principal machine tools in service com¬ 
prise 54 turning lathes, of which 8 are turning and boring lathes, 
25 planing and mortising lathes, 3 heavy cylinder-boring lathes, 
6 milling machines, and 15 boring machines. 


150 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN NETHERLANDS. 


The following-named American machine tools were observed in 
service, the prices wherever indicated being those which Messrs. 
Smulders stated to the writer were paid for the respective tools: 


Name of maker. 

Type and dimensions. 

When 

pur¬ 

chased. 

Price de¬ 
livered in 
Rotter¬ 
dam. 

Jones & Lamson Machine Co., Springfield, 
vt. 

3 turret lathes. 



2" turret lathe. 

1902 

$1,387 
1,093 

.do. 

1903 

Browne & Sharpe Manufacturing Co., Prov¬ 
idence, R. I. 

Bullard Machine Tool Co., Bridgeport, Conn. 
Do. 

No. 24 miller. 

Horizontal turning and boring mill. 



Turret lathe. 

1906 

1,246 
663 

Niles-Bement-Pond Co., New York, N. Y_ 

Buffalo Forge Co., Buffalo. 

5' radial drill. 

1905 

Blower fans and exhausters. 

Landis Tool Co., Waynesboro, Pa. 

Plain grinder, No. 28. 

1905 

2,734 
1,075 
1,126 
583 

Do..... 

Universal grinder, No. 4. 

1905 

Cleveland Automatic Co , Cleveland, Ohio . 
Cincinnati Tool Works, Cincinnati. 

If" automatic lathe. 

1906 

1 lathe. 

1906 

Dreses, Muller & Co., Cincinnati. 

4' radial drill. 

1905 

941 

Dreses Machine Tool Co., Cincinnati. 

2 radial drills. 

Lodge & Shipley Machine Tool Co., Cincin¬ 
nati. 

American Tool Works Co., Cincinnati. 

6 lathes, 14" swing. 

1906 

400 

Lathe. 

Niles Tool Works, Hamilton. 

Horizontal turning and boring mill. 



Chicago Pneumatic Tool Co., Chicago, Ill... 
W. F. & J. Barnes Co., Rockford. 

Boyer drills. 



4 vertical drills. 








Men at the Jones & Lamson machine tools are earning, it was said, 
about $5.34 per week. 

The Brown & Sharpe tool was spoken of very highly. The 
Dreses radial drill is well liked, and was referred to as a very handy 
tool. Ingersoll-Sergeant engines are employed. There are many 
shapers in use in these shops without any names showing. The tools 
appear to be of Belgian origin. 

Much of the steel worked up here, in connection especially with 
dredge hoppers, is of fluid steel. 

FOREIGN TOOLS-SHOP HOURS AND "WAGES. 


Among the foreign tools in use the following were observed: 

Billeter & Klunz A. G., of Aschersleben, Germany, power hammers controlled 
by foot; De Bergue Company, Manchester, multiple punch; J. Whitworth 
& Co., Manchester, punch; J. Bennie & Sons, Glasgow, punches; G. Muir & Co., 
Glasgow, lathes; Fetu-Defize, Liege, slotters; G. & A. Harvey, Glasgow, hori¬ 
zontal borers; Zimmermann, Chemnitz, horizontal borers; J. Deneffe, Liege, 
vertical millers; J. E. Reinecker, Chemnitz, hob machines. 

English boring and lathe tools are in service and the Deutsche- 
Niles Werke have supplied several boring machines. The Smulders 
cut all teeth on hob machines from Iteinecker, of Chemnitz. 

A week’s work at the Smulders plant comprises approximately 62 
hours. The shop opens at 6 in the morning; there is an interval from 
8 until 8.30, and an interval from 12 to 1; at 4 o’clock there is a 
third interval for 30 minutes, and the shops close at 7, except on Sat¬ 
urday, when work stops at 4 p. m. 









































MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN NETHERLANDS. 151 

The weekly ivages paid in the Smulders Works are as follows 
(florin=40.2 cents) : 


Class of workmen. 

Florins. 

Class of workmen. 

Florins. 

Lathe men. 

14 to 18 
14 to 16 
14 to 17 
12 to 16 
12 to 16 
a 25 to 30 

Assemhiing-dppartmpnt h^qrl)? 

16 to 20 
16 to 18 
14 to 16 
14 to 18 

14 to 18 

15 to 20 

Planer hands. 

Milling-machine men. 

Vise men, assembling department. 

Molders_ 

Boring-mill hands.. 

Carpenters 

Grinding-machine men. 

Pattern makers . 

Foremen. 

Forge men 




a Plus extras. 


FIJENOORD SHIP AND ENGINE BUILDING WORKS. 

The Fijenoord shipyards of Rotterdam had 1,500 men at work in 
November, 1909, when the writer was granted by Mr. P. J. Biesta, of 
the administration department, the privilege of an inspection. All 
departments of this establishment were busy, but no occasion existed 
for night work. This is one of the best establishments of its kind in 
Netherlands. The machine-tool installation comprises many Ameri¬ 
can tools of standard types; the character of the output is high, and 
there is a progressive spirit dominating all parts of the works. The 
full name and .address is: Maatschappij voor Scheeps en Werk- 
tuigbouw Fijenoord, Feyenoorddyk 80, Rotterdam. 

The firm is doing practically all the work required for shipbuild¬ 
ing. This includes not only hull work, but engines and boilers, pro¬ 
pellers, shafting, and numerous small parts, outside of special articles. 
Broadly speaking, these works engage in the building and repairing 
of ships and in the making of engines for power installations. Sev¬ 
eral vessels, including torpedo boats, have been built at this yard for 
the Dutch navy. Boilers are also built, and there were at the time of 
the visit a number of orders on hand for heavy Scotch boilers, and for 
sugar machinery. No pneumatic tools were observed in service in 
connection with boiler work. 

THE EQUIPMENT, BUILDINGS, AND GROWTH OF FIRM. 

In the power station attention was attracted by three beautiful 
high-speed engines recently received from Beiliss & Morcom, of 
Birmingham, England. These engines are self-lubricating and with 
direct connection. The Fijenoord firm is able, with its excellent 
foundry equipment, to cast practically all parts required for ship 
work. 

The main erecting shop in this plant is a fine building measuring 
230 by 130 feet. It is iron framed throughout and well lighted. 
There is a main bay, with two large side bays, and with still a fourth 
bay running at right angles to the building proper. This last bay is 
equipped in the manner of the main erecting shop. Overhead travel¬ 
ing cranes serve all parts of the building. It is noteworthy that in 
the erecting shops plenty of room is afforded. The flooring is of 
brick placed on edge. There appeared to be, however, some un¬ 
evenness in spots, but it is assumed that these bricks can be as readily 
removed as in the case of block flooring. 

The Fijenoord company has been in existence for eighty-six years. 
It is a limited company, and was founded under the auspices of King 





























Pig. 25.—Beiliss & Morcom engines in Fijenoord power plant, Rotterdam. 

machinery, etc. Most of the raw material required is drawn from 
Germany. It was stated that coal from Germany was being offered 
at the time of the visit at $2.82 per ton, delivered in lighters at the 
yards. 

AMERICAN MACHINE TOOLS IN EVIDENCE. 

The machine-tool installation of this plant is, on the whole, fully 
in keeping with an establishment of high character. There are a 
number of English tools, but there is a far larger proportion of 
American tools in use than had been previously observed in Dutch 


152 MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN NETHERLANDS. 

William I, in 1823, principally as a steamship company to introduce 
steam navigation into Netherlands. In the course of years the vari¬ 
ous steamship lines were abandoned and the company is now con¬ 
cerned exclusively with shipbuilding and engineering. 

At the time of the inspection the firm was engaged in building a 
large steamer for the Dutch East India service. The principal di¬ 
mensions of this ship are, in feet: Length, 323; breadth, 44^; depth, 
25. Still other work in hand in November, 1909, comprised two 
passenger steamers for Java, a steamer for hydrographic service, a 
light-ship, and various engines for other shipbuilders and for sugar 







MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN NETHERLANDS. 


153 


shops. Among the American tools are several Jones & Lamson turret 
lathes. One of these machines has been in service for thirteen years, 
and the statement was made that it works to-day with the same ex¬ 
actitude as when first purchased. A new and larger Jones & Lamson 
machine was purchased last year on the strength of the showing 
made by the original tool. 

De F ries, of Dusseldorf, has furnished several tools, and this firm 
is catering largely to the trade in Netherlands. The tools supplied 
by I)e Fries are mostly lathes. Fetu-Defize, of Liege, has also fur¬ 
nished a number of lathes. 

\ he American machine tools in service include the following: 


Jones & Lamson Machine Co., Springfield, Vt_Turret lathes. 

P. Blaisdell & Co., Worcester, Mass_Lathes. 

Bath Grinder Co., Fitchburg_Grinder. 

F. E. Reed Co., Worcester-Large lathes. 

Fosdick Machine Tool Co., Cincinnati, Ohio_Radial drills. 

Lodge & Shipley Machine Tool Co., Cincinnati_Lathes. 

John Steptoe Shaper Co., Cincinnati_Shapers. 

Smith & Mills, Cincinnati_Shapers. 

Rahn-Mayer-Carpenter Co., Cincinnati_Lathes. 

Cincinnati Planer Co., Cincinnati_Planers. 

Dreses, Muller & Co., Cincinnati_Radial drills. 

Gisholt Machine Co., Madison, Wis_Grinder. 


FOREIGN-MADE TOOLS-AMERICAN AND FOREIGN TOOLS COMPARED. 


Among the foreign machine tools in evidence are the following: 

Fetu-Defize, Liege, long-bedded heavy lathe and lathes; Thomas Shanks & 
Co., Johnstone, Scotland, heavy turning lathe, long-bedded lathe, and heavy 
slotter; De Fries & Co., Dusseldorf, engine lathes, pit lathes, and long-bedded 
heavy lathe; Deutsche-Niles Werke, Oberschoneweide, lathes; Kendall & Gent, 
Manchester, cylinder borers, 2 threading machines, 3 small lathes, and radial 
drill No. 3203; Brener, Schumacher & Co., Kalk, planer; G. & A. Harvey, Glas¬ 
gow, horizontal borer; Wagner & Co., Dortmund, cylinder borer No. 3674, heavy 
planer No. 3675, and 2 small lathes; Goddard & Massey, rivetters; Hulse & Co., 
Manchester, heavy slotter; Maclea & March, Leeds, crank shaper. 

In view of the wide experience of the Fijenoord firm in regard to 
machine tools, and especially with reference to European conditions, 
a statement was requested as to the relative merits of American and 
Continental machine tools, especially with regard to the medium¬ 
sized machines. The reply was as follows: “ In general we find 
American tools best for light work on account of their good design 
and handiness. We have had no experience with the heavier Ameri¬ 
can tools and have hitherto bought machines of this sort in Germany, 
Great Britain, and Belgium.” 

workmen’s wages. 


The wages paid at the Fijenoord yards are as follows per hour: 


Class of workmen. 


Lathe men. 

Planer hands. 

Milling-machine men . 

Boring-mill hands. 

Grinding-machine men 
Foremen. 


Cents. 

Class of workmen. 

5 to 11 
10 to 10' 
11 

9 

9 

16 

Assembling-department hands. 

Vise men, assembling department. 

Holders. 

Carpenters.. 

Pattern makers. 

Forge men. 



Cents. 


10 toll 
11 

8 to 10 
10 

8 to 11 
6 to 11 


The Fijenoord plant is a credit not only to the city of Rotterdam 
but to the country of Netherlands, and the work turned out reflects 
the greatest credit on the engineers and directors in charge. 





































154 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN NETHERLANDS. 


NEDERLANDSCHE WORKS. 

There is no more important engineering plant in Netherlands than 
the Nederlandsche Fabriek van Werktuigen en Spoorwegmaterieel. 
The establishment is located in the environs of Amsterdam. A visit 
was made to these works in November, 1909, when General Director 
J. Muysken accorded every facility for an inspection of the shops 
and personally escorted the writer over the plant. 

There need be no hesitancy in saying that the Nederlandsche Works 
rank among the very best of the engineering plants on the Continent 
of Europe. The character of the output is extremely high, and every 
attention and care is bestowed on the work. At the time of the visit 
the number of men employed approximated 2,000. 

NATURE OF OUTPUT-LOCOMOTIVE BUILDING IMPORTANT. 

The output consists for the most part of steam engines, Diesel 
engines, machinery for cane and beet-sugar factories, steam boilers, 
locomotives, and rolling stock for railways and tramways. 

The construction of locomotives has become in recent years also 
an important feature of the establishment. Until within a com¬ 
paratively few years the Dutch railways had drawn largely on Eng¬ 
lish plants for locomotives and tenders. Beyer, Peacock & Co., of 
Manchester, have furnished for many years locomotives for Nether¬ 
lands. Years ago, however, German locomotive builders also began 
exporting to Netherlands. It was with the object of furnishing 
the Dutch railways with homemade locomotives that locomotive work 
was inaugurated at the Amsterdam plant. Director Muysken states 
that to-day his works are quite able to underbid the English loco¬ 
motive builders, but that their strongest competition is with the 
Germans, who, to use the actual language of the Dutch manager, 
“ often export under cost price.” 

The locomotive building here is mostly on the plate-frame form, 
and the types of locomotives built embrace the following: Express 
locomotives with two coupled axles; freight engines with three 
coupled axles; and shunting engines. Of late years many of the 
locomotives built here use superheated steam (Schmidt’s super¬ 
heaters). The manager states that locomotives with inside cylinders 
are as a rule preferred by the companies. The finishing on the 
engines is generally of a very high standard, and is in accordance 
with the rules laid down by the railway companies. 

At the time of the visit the work in progress was largely confined 
to steam engines and Diesel motors in addition to locomotives. The 
shop makes Diesel engines up to 1,000 horsepower, but the majority 
of the engines turned out are between 50 and 600 horsepower. The 
firm has built a Diesel engine for marine purposes, which, it is stated, 
is installed on a schooner plying between Scandinavian and ports of 
Netherlands. 

A shipyard with which this company is connected adjoins the 
engineering yards proper, and ships have been turned out from here, 
which are noAv operating in the Dutch East Indies, with engines up 
to 5,000 horsepower. 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN NETHERLANDS. 


155 


EXTENSIVE AMERICAN MACHINE-TOOL OUTFIT. 

The machine-tool installation in this establishment is one of the 
best the writer has seen in Netherlands. Among the American ma¬ 
chine tools at work are some of the very best types produced in the 
United States. The following-named firms and machines are 
included: 

Mark Flatlier Planer Co., Nashua, N. II_.Lathes and shapers. 

Jones & Lamson Machine Co., Springfield, Vt_Turret lathes. 

Baush Machine Tool Co., Springfield, Mass__Radial drill. 

Becker Milling Machine Co., Hyde Park, Mass___Vertical drill. 

F. E. Reed Company, Worcester_Lathes. 

William Powell Planer Co., Worcester_Planers. 

Bullard Machine Tool Co., Bridgeport, Conu„Vertical turret lathes, boring mill. 

Pratt & Whitney Co., Hartford-.Turret lathes. 

Gould & Eberhardt, Newark, N. J _Gear cutters. 

Pond Machine Tool Co., Plainfield_Boring mill. 

Landis Tool Co., Waynesboro, Pa_Grinders. 

Pedrick &*Ayer Co., Philadelphia_Millers. 

William Sellers & Co., Philadelphia-Lathes, planers, and grinders. 

American Tool Works Co., Cincinnati, Ohio_Lathes and planers. 

Baker Bros., Toledo_Drills. 

Bickford Drill and Tool Co., Cincinnati_.Radial drills. 

Cincinnati Shaper Co., Cincinnati_Shapers. 

Davis & Egan Co., Cincinnati_Lathes. 

G. A. Gray Co., Cincinnati_Planers. 

Lodge & Shipley Machine Tool Co., Cincinnati_.Lathes. 

R. K. LeBlond Machine Tool Co., Cincinnati_Lathes. 

Schumacher & Boye, Cincinnati_Lathe. 

Springfield Machine Tool Co., Springfield_Lathe. 

Smith & Mills, Cincinnati_Shapers. 

Ingersoll Milling Machine Co., Rockford, Ill___Slab miller. 

Kearney & Trecker, Milwaukee, Wis_Miller. 

APPRECIATION OF AMERICAN TOOLS. 

The Kearney & Trecker miller is referred to as being a most satis¬ 
factory machine. The writer has repeatedly referred to the Kearney 
& Trecker millers as eliciting marked approval on the part of manu¬ 
facturers in Europe who have had an opportunity either to study or 
to see this machine. lie is forced to the conclusion, from the volun¬ 
tary expressions of opinion offered on the part of many directors, that 
the Kearney & Trecker machines greatly appeal to European dealers. 
This firm might with advantage pay special attention to European 
territory. A Landis grinder was observed grinding down pistons 
for Diesel engines. These Landis machines appear to be very well 
liked. 

One of the oldest American tools in the shops is a planer from Wm. 
Sellers & Co., which was installed as long ago as 1867. When work¬ 
ing, the frame moves, and not the bed. Still another machine, a 
lathe, was also obtained in 1867 from the Sellers firm. These tools, 
it is declared, are still doing fine work, and it was stated that the 
old Sellers lathe will cut screws up to 6-inch pitch, something which 
it was found difficult to do with other machines in the shop. 

One of the Lodge & Shipley lathes in service is probably the largest 
size made by the firm. The miller from the Ingersoll Milling Ma¬ 
chine Company, was working at the time at milling locomotive engine 



















156 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN NETHERLANDS. 


connecting rods. Director Muysken said that he was very much 
satisfied with the Ingersoll machine and would, in fact, some day buy 
a second one. 

The machinery department is equipped throughout with traveling 
cranes. 

PRICES PAID FOR AMERICAN TOOLS. 

The directors of the shops state that the prices paid for American 
machine tools during the last few years have been as follows: 


Name of maker. 


Mark Flather Planer Co. 

Do. 

Jones & Lamson Machine Co.... 

Do.:. 

Bullard Machine Tool Co. 

Pratt & Whitney Co. 

Do-. 

Smith & Mills. 

Lodge & Shipley. 

R. K. LeBlond Machine Tool Co 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Springfield Machine Tool Co.... 

Cincinnati Shaper Co. 

Kearney & Trecker. 


Type and dimensions. 


Shaping machine, 14". 

Shaping machine, 16". 

Harkness turret lathe, 2!" x 24" ... 

Harkness turret lathe, 80/200". 

Standard boring and turning mill, 
60". 

Lathe, 1" x 10". 

Turret lathe, 1!" x 18". 

Shaping machine, 20". 

Lathe, 22" x 12". 

Lathe, 14". 

Shaping machine, 20" x 22". 

Lathe, 16". 

Lathe. 

Lathe, 20!". 

Lathe, 17|". 

Springfield lathe, 16". 

Cincinnati shaping machine, 26".. 
Milwaukee milling machine, 


When 

pur¬ 

chased. 

Price 
deliv¬ 
ered in 
Amster¬ 
dam. 

1907 

$287 

1908 

458 

1907 

1.491 

1908 

1,849 

1908 

2,549 

1908 

786 

1909 

1,166 

1907 

350 

1908 

1,126 

1908 

426 

1908 

373 

1908 

539 

1908 

896 

1909 

748 

1909 

1,081 

1908 

563 

1908 

579 

1908 

1,487 


N-3 BP. 


FOREIGN TOOLS AND THEIR APPRECIATION. 

Among the foreign tools in service are the following: 

Alfred Herbert, Coventry, England, turret lathes; Pollock & Macnab, Man¬ 
chester, turret lathe; Joh. Moll, Augsburg, Germany, tool for turning down 
crank shafts; Hartmann, Chemnitz, Germany, heavy planer; Deutsciie-Niles 
Werke, Obersclioneweide, heavy planer, boring mill, horizontal borer; Fetu- 
Defize, Liege, lathe; Ludwig Loewe, Berlin, millers, lathes, shapers, vertical 
miller; Kendall & Gent, Manchester, milling machines; Geo. Richards & Co., 
Broadheath, side planers, keyway cutter; Dean, Smith & Grace, Keighley, Eng¬ 
land, lathes; Ernst Schiess, Dusseldorf, several special machines; J. Whitworth 
& Co., Manchester, lathe; William Asquith, Halifax, a large number of radial 
drills; John Lang & Sons, Johnstone, Scotland, lathes; Wagner & Co., Dort¬ 
mund, Germany, lathe; H. W. Ward & Co., Birmingham, turret lathe; Gebr. 
Heinemann, horizontal turret lathe; Zimmermann, Chemnitz, lathe; Otto 
Froriep, Rheydt, multiple drills. 

There are a number of Ludwig Loewe lathes from Berlin. Director 
Muysken says that he likes these lathes, but finds them more expen¬ 
sive than the general run of American lathes. The firm has just 
installed two new Loewe shapers. The advantage claimed for these 
is that the machines will make a short cut at very high speed. The 
Pollock & Macnab turret lathes are referred to as good tools in design 
and not expensive. The Dean, Smith & Grace lathes are declared 
the best for heavy cuts on rough work, but Director Muysken states 
that they are rather too heavy, and therefore too expensive for finer 
work. 













































MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN NETHERLANDS. 


157 


Acetylene gas is used in cutting large engine frames. All the plate 
frames are milled, and for this work recourse is largely had to the 
heavy tools supplied by Collett & Engelhard, of Offenbach. This 
firm has already been referred to as having furnished the majority of 
heavy milling tools employed in Continental locomotive works. 

ORIGIN OF RAW MATERIAL-WAGES AND HOURS. 

The material used in these shops for engine and locomotive build¬ 
ing comes, for the most part, from Germany, although some material 
has been obtained from England. The Witkowitz Works, of Austria, 
it is said, have offered of late steel shafts rough turned for 26 marks 
($6.19) per ton. This is regarded as extraordinarily cheap, and the 
opinion seems to prevail that the price is less than the cost of 
production. 

The coal used at these works is largely drawn from Germany, and 
can be delivered by canal. It has previously been noted that the 
prices quoted in Rotterdam during November, 1909, were approxi¬ 
mately $2.68 per ton. In some of the Netherlands works the West¬ 
phalian coal is regarded as superior to the English east coast coal, 
although costing a little more, as it is said it yields more economical 
results. 

Lathe men, planer hands, and milling-machine men in these shops 
are paid 9.2 to 12 cents per hour. Boring-mill hands receive from 8 
to 11 cents and grinding-machine men 10.4 cents. Twelve cents an 
hour is the maximum wage paid the assembling-department hands 
and molders. Carpenters get 10.4 cents, and pattern makers and 
forge men 12 cents an hour. 

The hours of work are from 7 a. m. to 12 noon and from 1.30 p. m. 
to 6 p. m., except Saturdays, when work stops at 12.30 p. m. 

SCHELDE SHIPBUILDING AND ENGINEERING WORKS. 

Of the various shipbuilding establishments in Netherlands there 
is no better than the Schelde Works, located in Flushing. A visit 
was made to this establishment on November 26, 1909, upon which 
occasion every facility was accorded for an inspection of the shops. 
Acknowledgments are especially due to Engineer-Manager W. H. 
Martin, and to his assistant, Engineer W. B. Fulton, who personally 
escorted the writer over the yard. At the time of the visit the num¬ 
ber of men employed was approximately 1,600. 

MERCHANT AND WAR VESSEL CONSTRUCTION. 

A fine steamer, recently launched and designed for service between 
Netherlands and the East Indies, was lying alongside the docks. 
This vessel is of 5,000 dead-weight tonnage and 5,000 horsepower. 
She is designed for both cargo and passenger service, and is the 
fifteenth ship built at this yard for the company to which she belongs. 

On the building slips were two torpedo destroyers in process of 
construction, each designed for 30 knots speed, to be fitted with 
engines of 8,000 horsepower. These torpedo destroyers are designed 
for service in the Dutch East Indies, and are probably the last vessels 
of the type in the Dutch service to be fitted with reciprocating en- 


158 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN NETHERLANDS. 


gines. It is understood that in all probability the Dutch authorities 
will utilize turbines in future ships of war. 

On still another slip was observed a vessel of 5,000 deadweight 
tonnage under construction. This vessel is being built on the Isher- 
wood system of longitudinal stiffening. Mr. Martin seemed to think 
that there would be a saving of about 300 tons in material by reason 
of this longitudinal design. The frames of the boat are spaced about 
12 feet apart, and are necessarily deep. The only possible disad¬ 
vantage, so far as space is concerned, would appear to be a reduction 
in athwartship room for lumber cargo, as, owing to the deep frames, 
it is not possible to store lumber close out to the sides. 



Fig. 26.—Vessel of 5,000 tons being built on the Isherwood system at the Schelde Works. 


Still other navy work in progress was the building of a submarine, 
and the installing of Diesel engines. The engines are built at Augs- 
burg-Nuremburg. They have eight cylinders and are chiefly of gun- 
metal construction. 

Prominent features of the shipyard are four electric cranes of great 
height and radius of arm. They are placed between two slips and 
can cover two vessels of 500 feet length. The horizontal arm carries 
a trolley with lifting hook and can make a complete circle; the 
length of arm is 100 feet and the height of the hook in top position 
is also 100 feet, the center crane being 12 feet more so as to clear the 
others. These cranes can lift 3 tons at the extreme radius and 6 
tons at 50 feet. A fourth crane of similar dimensions travels par¬ 
allel to the ship’s keel. Little in the line of repair work is under¬ 
taken here. 







MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN NETHERLANDS. 


159 



Fig. 27.—Shipyard cranes in the Schelde Works. 

proximately $973,300. It was stated that the yards have enjoyed 
plenty of work during the past few years, notwithstanding the gen¬ 
eral depression in other sections of Europe. 

The raw material used here comes from Germany and England; 
most of it, however, from Germany. This is in consequence of the 
lower prices of German steel plants. The shafting and forged-steel 
parts, for example, are generally received in the rough and are fin¬ 
ished up at the Schelde plant. 

The crank shafts required, it was said, are practically all bought 
in Germany. Haniel & Lueg, of Dusseldorf, and the Oberbilk 
Works supply most of these crank shafts. All of the propellers 
going on the new ships are of the built-up type and are made of 
Stone-Martin bronze. Mr. Martin, of this combination, is the en- 


DEVELOPMENT OF FIRM-RAW MATERIAL PURCHASED ABROAD. 

The Schelde Shipbuilding Works have been in existence for more 
than thirty-three years, and have always been recognized as one of 
the representative plants of Netherlands. Mr. Martin is of Scotch 
birth, and has been identified with the plant since its establishment. 
The visitor early gains the impression that the methods in vogue 
here are strictly in keeping with the most modern practice along "the 
Clyde. The entire spirit of the works is essentially progressive, and 
the writer was impressed with the readiness of the management here 
to avail itself of the most up-to-date and latest appliances, regardless 
of origin. 

The Schelde shipbuilding establishment is a limited company, and 
the capital is practically all Dutch, and including debentures is ap- 







160 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN NETHERLANDS. 


gineering manager of the Schelde yards. It struck one as novel to 
see large bronze blades cast hollow from the root to about halfway 
up the blade, to prevent the gradual breaking action which often 
takes place. 

IMPORTANT BOILER CONSTRUCTION-MACHINE TOOLS. 

It is seldom that better boiler work is to be seen. Particular at¬ 
tention was attracted to several boilers under construction which 
weighed more than 40 tons each. The Schelde yards have recently 
turned out 80-ton boilers. These generators were, of Course, double 
ended. The boilers were fitted with Howden’s draft system, which 
is employed in at least one-half of the boilers turned out here. 

The Schelde yards make a specialty of building Yarrow tubular 
boilers, and it is claimed that these can be built cheaper at Flushing 
than at Yarrow’s own yards on the Clyde. The Yarrow boiler built 
in the Schelde shops is more properly described as a modified Yarrow, 



Fig. 28.— Steam pipe made from solid forging, bored with trepanning tool, Schelde Works. 


inasmuch as some new features have been incorporated. These modi¬ 
fied Yarrows are also fitted with Howden’s draft system. 

For steam work, generally, the Schelde establishment believes in 
utilizing only steel pipes. All the smaller pipe ends are expanded 
into the flanges. For the larger steam pipes solid shafts with flanges 
forged on are bored out. These larger pipes are made of Siemens- 
Martin steel and are tested to 1,500 pounds pressure. Attention was 
called to the great strength of the flanges combined with the gradual 
increasing thickness of pipe for some distance behind the flange. It 
was noticed that all high-pressure flanges are spigoted, packing being 
introduced in the spigot only and the" flanges standing open beyond 
that. 

For boiler work there are two 150-ton flanging machines, one from 
Fielding & Platt, of Manchester, the other from Breuer, Schumacher 
& Co., Kalk, near Cologne. 

The 40-ton boilers under construction are built of lj-inch plate. 
It was observed that the Schelde yards are rolling very broad and 






MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN NETHERLANDS. 161 

long plates, weighing over 12 tons each. This gives the additional 
advantage that the joints are all above the water line and obviates 
to a great extent corrosion or leaking at the joints. The Schelde 
yards turn out as a rule about 50 heavy Scotch boilers per year. The 
average weight is about 40 tons each. 

Attention was attracted to the fact that the yards are using seam¬ 
less rolled water domes for Yarrow boilers. These domes are rolled 
out of single ingots and are obtained from Press & Walzwerk, Dussel- 
dorf. The especial advantage in using rolled water domes is the 
saving in weight, a valuable feature for torpedo-boat construction. 

In the boiler shops much welding is done with oxygen and acetylene 
gas, and it was stated that this process is found to be very economical. 
The managers find that acetylene gas is cheaper and better to use than 
hand welding. All flange ends of boiler plates are milled. 

The corrugated furnaces used with the Scotch boilers are obtained 
from German sources. It was stated that the German prices on 
corrugated furnaces were, as a rule, 25 per cent less than the English 
figures. These corrugated furnaces generally come from Schultz 
Ivnaudt, of Essen, and other German firms. The Hoerde Works 
supply most of the plates used for boiler construction. 

It was observed that furnace ports and manholes were being cut 
out with two machines, one by G. & A. Harvey, Glasgow, the other 
by Hulse, of Manchester. This latter firm has also supplied a heavy 
multiple drill for boiler work. There are several heavy tools by 
Campbell & Hunter, of Leeds, besides a four-column boiler-shell drill 
by Buckton. In the boiler shops 50-ton traveling cranes are in 
service. 

POWERFUL HYDRAULIC MACHINES AND AIR COMPRESSORS. 

Felding & Platt, in addition to their riveting machines, have sup¬ 
plied a 150-ton hydraulic flanging plant. The practice in the Schelde 
yards is to use up to 150 tons hydraulic pressure on the boiler-shell 
rivets, and 60 to 80 tons hydraulic for inside work. 

Ingersoll & Sergeant (American) air compressors are in use. 
There are five 60-horsepower compound compressors from this firm 
in service. In the machine shop Buckton & Co., of Leeds, are in 
evidence with lathes, planers, boring mill, and vertical planers. One 
of the latter planes to a length of 26 feet and to a height of 16 feet. 

In the plate department J. Bennie & Sons, of Glasgow, have pro¬ 
vided both punch machines and shearing machines, and fnost of the 
hydraulic tools in this shop are from Hugh Smith, of Glasgow. A 
keel-plate bender for 30-foot plates has also come from the same 
firm, and Smith Brothers & Co., of Glasgow, have supplied plate rolls. 
The Schelde shops make practically everything required in ship 
work with the exception of crank work and especially patented 
articles. 

In the forge department attention was attracted to a Breuer, 
Schumacher & Co. compound steam and hydraulic press. The steam 
gives the blow, and the hydraulic furnishes the squeeze at the end. 
This is a 400-ton press. B. & S. Massey steam hammers (English) 
are much in evidence. It is the practice of the Schelde shops to use 
superheated steam for all of these steam hammers. 

Solid, as well as open, valve motion links are ground to a correct 
curve on a De Fries vertical grinder fitted with traveling table. 

H. Doc. 913, 61-2-11 


162 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN NETHERLANDS. 


The American grinders in use have been supplied by Gisholt and 
also by Landis. Wilmarth & Morman, of Grand Rapids, Mich., 
have furnished one tool grinder. Working along with the Grand 
Rapids tool are some grinders from Mayer & Schmidt, of Offenbach. 
There are two heavy Landis tool grinders in service, and these 
machines, it was stated, are liked very much. As a rule, heavy 
piston rods are ground on these tools; that is to say, up to 12 feet 
6 inches long. 

In the power station Howden high-speed direct-connected engines 
are in service, along with one Beilin and one of Schelde’s own make. 

NOVEL METHOD OF HEATING-AMERICAN MACHINE TOOLS. 

On passing through the shops it was remarked how even was the 
temperature, and how comfortable the shops were for working, con¬ 
sidering the low temperature outside. It was explained that in the 
fitting shop steam was passed through all of the cast-iron columns 
of the building; in other words, the columns were also utilized for 
radiators. No apprehension was expressed of undue corrosion likely 
to result, inasmuch as there was no opportunity, it was pointed out, 
for water to lodge. 

The class of work carried on in the machinery department is of 
high order, and it would seem that these Dutch machinists are work¬ 
ing to very close measurements. The machine-tool installation here 
is an extraordinarily good one. There are many English tools in 
service and a few good grades of American tools. At the same time 
one could not help but notice that there was room for additional 
American machine tools of some of the latest types. 

Among the American machine tools and equipment in use in the 
Schelde shops are the following: 

Jones & La mson Machine Co., Springfield, Vt_Turret lathes. 

Mark Flather Planer Co., Nashua, N. H___Shaper. 

Becker-Brainard Milling Machine Co., Hyde Park, Mass. No. 1£ miller. 

Prentice Brothers Co., Worcester_Vertical drills, lathes. 

Hendey Machine Co., Torrington, Conn_Lathes. 

Brown & Sharpe Manufacturing Co., Providence, R. I_No. 2 miller, No. 4a miller. 

Gleason Tool Co., Rochester, N. Y_Bevel gear cutter. 

Ingersoll-Sergeaht Co., New York_Five air compressors. 

Manning, Maxwell & Moore, New York_Lathes. 

Gould & Eberhardt, Newark, N. J_Shapers. 

Landis Tool Co., Waynesboro, Pa_Grinder. 

Davis & Egan Co., Cincinnati, Ohio_Lathes, vertical drill. 

Lodge & Shipley Machine Tool Co., Cincinnati_Lathes. 

G. A. Gray Co., Cincinnati___Planer. 

AMERICAN MACHINE TOOLS COMPARED WITH EUROPEAN. 

In view of the wide experience of Mr. Martin with reference to 
machine tools, and especially with regard to European conditions, he 
was requested to state his views as to the relative merits of American 
and Continental built machines, particularly such as might be advan¬ 
tageously used in shipbuilding plants. In response to this he has 
prepared the following memorandum: 

American lathes are not so well liked by our men as the modern British. 
The reason for this may probably be in the greater complication, for although 
the quick changes of feed and speed are very convenient, they have their draw¬ 
backs in requiring more attention and causing delay when out of order. 

Another point is the greater number of small parts made of malleable cast 
iron. They get broken in a very short time and have to be replaced by forged 














MACHTNE-TOOL TRADE IN NETHERLANDS. 


163 


steel. This is particularly the case with the slide rests, which are all too 
short and have too small a bore. This defect shows up particularly when turn¬ 
ing a steep taper of considerable length or when boring a deep hole with a tool 
having great overhang. 

Otherwise the American lathes which we have are equal in every respect to 
British, besides having a superior general finish. The lathes which give the 
best all-round satisfaction in our shipyard are those of the type of John Lang, 
of Johnstone, or Dean, Smith & Grace, of Keighly. 

Brown & Sharpe and Cincinnati millers I consider superior to any, and I 
think the same can be said of Landis grinders. For shipyard tools I find that 
Scotch are superior to either English or German, especially in the heavier type. 
Of American heavy shipyard tools I have no experience, as it is seldom that 
one meets with them here. 

MACHINE TOOLS OF EUROPEAN MAKE. 

Among the principal foreign machine-tools in use in the Schelde 
yards are the following: 

Fielding & Platt, Manchester, 150-ton flange machine, 150-ton hydraulic 
riveter; John Lang & Sons, Johnstone, Scotland, lathes; Hulse & Co., Manches¬ 
ter, multiple drills for boiler heads, vertical lathes and planers; G. & A. Har¬ 
vey, Glasgow, boiler plate tools, lathes, radial drill; Kendall & Gent, Manchester, 
lathes, milling machines, vertical and horizontal; Buckton & Co., Leeds, hori¬ 
zontal boring tool for boiler, vertical side planer, planers, lathes, slotters; Dean, 
Smith & Grace, Keighly, lathes; Demoor & Co., Brussels, lathe, shaping ma¬ 
chines, drills, and testing machines; Alfred Herbert, Coventry, turret lathes; 
Sniith & Coventry, Manchester, turret lathes; Craven Brothers, Manchester, 
radial drill; Mayer & Schmidt, Offenbach, grinder, tool grinders; Taylor & Tay¬ 
lor, Leicester, engraving machine; Ludwig Loewe, Berlin,, miller; Panhard & 
Levassor, Paris, band saw sharpening tool; Brener, Schumacher & Co., Kalk, 
150-ton hydraulic riveter and compound steam and hydraulic press; B. & S. 
Massey, Manchester, steam hammers; Smith Brothers, Glasgow, plate roll, 26 
feet; J. Bennie & Sons, Glasgow, punching and shearing, and sharpening ma¬ 
chines ; Hugh Smith, Glasgow, hydraulic tools for working up plates; Smith 
Brothers & Co., Glasgow, vertical plate rolls. 

There are many Buckton tools in use in these shops. One of the 
heavy Buckton planers is using a spring return system, and this ma¬ 
chine is liked very much because of its high return speed of 200 feet 
per minute. 

SHOP EFFICIENCY-THE WAGE SCALE. 

The attention of Mr. Martin was called to the general practice in 
America of obtaining figures bearing on shop efficiency. On the basis 
usually employed in the United States the Schelde plant estimates 
the shop efficiency at $1,045 to $1,186 per man per year. 

The wages paid throughout the Schelde shops are partly on a 
piecework schedule; in the fitting and turning shop Rowan’s wage- 
scale system is in use. Fifty hours per week constitute the working 
time. The wages per hour are as follows (1 florin—40.2 cents) : 


Class of workmen. 

Florins. 

Class of workmen. 

Florins. 

J,nthr> man_ .............. 

0.20 to 0.25 
.20 to .25 
.16 to .20 
.18 to .21 
.22 to .24 
.30 to .60 

Vise men, assembling department... 
Molders. 

0.16 to 0.21 
.16 to .24 
.16 to .24 
.16 to .26 
.20 to .25 

Planer hands ____ 


Carpenters. 


Pattern makers. 


Forge men. 

Foremen......... 




Mr. Martin gives close and personal attention to the control of this 
fine Schelde concern. He is essentially an engineer who believes in 
conducting work after the most approved modern methods. The 
high state of efficiency apparent at this plant attests strongly to the 
wisdom of the policy followed under his direction. 






























ITALY. 

TURIN AUTOMOBILE WORKS. 

The Italian automobile works, known as Societa Itala, located in 
Turin, in May, 1909, employed about 800 men. At the subsidiary 
shops in Caluso, where the forging, stamping, and pressing work is 
done, there are more than 200 men employed. The number of ma¬ 
chine tools in service is 480. The great majority of these tools are 
of American origin. The shops cover an area of 30,000 square meters 
(322,936 square feet) and are modern in character. The atten¬ 
tion to detail in the construction department and the accuracy with 
which material is worked up are perhaps unexcelled in any automobile 
establishment in Italy. During the past year I found that the wages 
paid in Italy to good machinists are on the average of 50 centimes 
(9.7 cents) per hour. In the Itala shops payments are made on both a 
fixed and a piecework schedule and on a premium basis. A working- 
day comprises 10 hours. 

MANNER OF WORKING AND CLASS OF MACHINES TURNED OUT. 

The shops are turning out all their brake hubs on Gisholt turret 
lathes. One man is finishing up a brake hub complete every 2J hours. 
The differential pinion work is being turned out on Potter & John¬ 
ston machines, and the gears are being cut on Bilgrams in about 14 
hours. 

The initial piston work in the Itala shops is handled entirely on 
lathes. The second part of the work, consisting in lining up, is 
finished with Landis grinders. This is in marked contrast to the 
methods in vogue in the Darracq Works at Suresnes, France, and in 
the Dietrich Works at Argenteuil, also near Paris. Both of these 
French works turn down the pistons on the face and flats, center 
same, and cut the necessary oil grooves, doing the entire work on 
Potter & Johnston machines. At the Panhard & Levassor works 
at Paris the practice followed is the same as in the Itala works, viz, 
to have recourse to lathes for the piston jobs. 

The proportion of foreign tools (tools other than American) in 
the Itala works is not large. There are a number of Ludwig Loewe 
machines and a few English machines of various makes. Ernault, 
of Paris, is represented, and there are a few Italian machines. I did 
not, however, observe any Belgian or Swiss machines. Itala is 
employing at least 3 Dubose gear cutters. 

BUSINESS CONDITIONS AND PRODUCTION. 

Business conditions with the Itala shops are reported as fairly 
good, and I understand that the firm’s output this year is nearly 
double that of last year. This output, which is being worked up 
under normal conditions, is reported to be practically disposed of. 

164 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE TN ITALY. 


165 


The machines turned out comprise the following horsepower: 16 to 
20; 20 to 30; 35 to 45; 50 to 65; 60 to 75. In addition, touring chassis 
are also turned out, as well as chassis for drays and omnibuses of 
800, 1,500, and 3,500 kilos (1,763, 3,306, and 7,716 pounds) working 
load. Cutter and aviation engines are also a product of the Itala 
firm. 

The automobile motor is placed forward and comprises 4 vertical 
cylinders for the 3 types, of which the horsepower is 20 to 30, 35 to 
45, and 50 to 65, respectively, and 6 cylinders for the 60 and 75 horse¬ 
power. In the Itala engines the transmission is by cardan shaft, with 
special compensating joints, which system, I understand, it has 
used from the first for touring cars, even of high power. The clutch 
is composed of metal disks, which is another feature which Itala has 
used on all cars since 1905. The ignition succeeds by a special sys¬ 
tem of Itala design at low tension. 

AMERICAN MACHINE TOOLS IN USE. 

I found the following American machine tools in service on the 
Itala floors, and the prices paid therefor, as given by the administra¬ 
tion of the works: 


Name of maker. 


Fellows Gear Shaper Co., Springfield, Vt. 

Jones & Lamson Machine Co., Springfield, Vt. 

Becker-Brainard Milling Machine Co., Hyde Park, Mass 

Prentice Bros. Co., Worcester, Mass. 

Do. 

F. E. Reed Co., Worcester, Mass. 

Brown & Sharpe Manufacturing Co., Providence, R. I.. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Potter & Johnston Machine Co., Pawtucket, R. I. 

Pratt & Whitney Co., Hartford, Conn. 

Hendey Machine Co.. Torrington, Conn. 

Whitney Manufacturing Co., Hartford, Conn. 

Landis Tool Co., Waynesboro, Pa. 

Newton Machine Tool Works, Philadelphia, Pa. 

Niles-Bement-Pond Co., Philadelphia, Pa. 

Cincinnati Milling Machine Co., Cincinnati, Ohio. 

Cincinnati Milling Tool Co., Cincinnati, Ohio. 

American Tool Works Co., Cincinnati, Ohio. 

Warner A Swasey Co., Cleveland, Ohio. 

Hamilton Machine Tool Co., Hamilton, Ohio. 

Springfield Machine Tool Co., Springfield. Ohio. 

Bakers Bros., Toledo, Ohio... 

Bickford Drill and Tool Co., Cincinnati, Ohio.. 

Fosdick Machine Tool Co., Cincinnati, Ohio.. 

Cincinnati Planer Co., Cincinnati, Ohio. 

Cincinnati Shaper Co., Cincinnati, Ohio.. 

Chicago Machine Tool Co., Chicago, Ill. 

W. F. & J. Barnes Co., Rockford, Ill. 

Gisholt Machine Co., Madison, Wis. 

Do. 


Type and dimensions. 

Price. 

Gear cutters. 

81,351 

1,718 

915 

275 

447 

372 

1,081 

1,062 

917 

898 

2,017 

2,412 

Turret lathes, 2-inch. 

Vertical millers, No. 5. 

Lathes, 14 inches by 6 feet.. 
Vertical drills, 16 inches by 

7 feet. 

Lathes, 16 inches by 8 feet.. 

Plain millers, No. 4. 

Grinders, No. 13. 

Gear cutters, 26-inch. 

Vertical millers, No. 2. 

Automatic turret turning 
and chucking machine. 
Turret lathes, 3-inch. 

Lathes and shapers. 

Horizontal millers. 


Grinders, No. 3. 

994 

Keyseat miller, No. 1. 

Slotters. 


Universal millers, H-inch .. 
Vertical drills. 

762 

185 

146 

899 

405 

444 

666 

Planer drill. 

Hexagonal turret lathes, 2- 
inch. 

Lathes, 16 inches by 8 feet.. 
Lathes, 20 inches by 6 l'eet.. 
Keyseaters. 

Radial drill. 

.do. 


Planer. 


Shapers. 


Horizontal millers, No. 3_ 

Vertical drills. 

395 

Turret lathes, Model H. 

Vertical turret lathes, 30- 
inch. 

2,065 
1,139 


In the above list of American tools, the Hendey lathes are in the 
majority among all the lathes employed. 

The Brown & Sharpe tools comprise 2 No. 2 plain milling ma¬ 
chines, 2 No. 4 of the same type, 3 No. 2 vertical plain milling 
machines, 1 No. 2 universal grinding machine, 1 No. 13 grinding 
machine, 3 gear cutters of the size 26, and 1 No. 2 surface grind¬ 
ing machine. 







































































166 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN ITALY. 


The Landis grinders comprise 2 No. 1, 1 No. 1^, 4 No. 3, and 2 
No. 23. 

The Becker-Brainards consist of 4 No. 5 vertical milling machines 
and 2 No. 7 horizontal milling machines. 

The Cincinnati Milling Machine Company tools comprise 5 No. 3 
plain millers, 3 No. 2 universal millers, and 1 No. 1^ universal miller. 

The Baker Brothers machines consist of 3 No. 1 tools, and 1 
cylinder boring machine. 

The Whitney Manufacturing Company is represented by No. 6 
type of machine. 

The Cincinnati Shaper Company is represented by 2 shapers, 1 a 
16-inch, the other a 20-inch. 

I found furnaces in service from the American Gas Furnace Com¬ 
pany, Elizabeth, N. J. 


FOREIGN TOOLS IN USE. 

Among the foreign machine-tool makers represented in the Itala 
shops are the following: From Germany: J. E. Reinecker, lathes, gear 
cutters, and horizontal millers; Ludwig Loewe, vertical and hori¬ 
zontal millers; Deutsche-Niles Werke, large vertical millers; Mayer 
& Schmidt, cylinder grinder; Biernatzki & Co., gear hob machine; 
De Fries & Co., tool grinder; and Lorch Schmidt, small precision 
lathes. From England: Alfred Herbert, small hexagonal turret 
lathes; Luke & Spencer, tool grinder; and Acme Lathe and Prod¬ 
ucts Company, 4 spindle automatic machines. From Italy: Dubose, 
gear cutters; and Itala, metal-sawing machines, power press, uni¬ 
versal grinder for ball bearings, 4 spindle cylinder-boring machines. 
From France: H. Ernault, horizontal borers. 

ROME ARSENAL. 

The Italian Government arsenal, known as Laboratorio di Preci- 
sione, in May, 1909, was working about 150 men. This plant is 
located in the city of Rome, and is under the control of the Italian 
War Ministry. The actual direction of the shops is assigned to the 
artillery branch of the army. The director of the Laboratorio di 
Precisione is Col. Luciano Bennati, the vice-director is Maj. Luigi 
Longo, both distinguished officers of artillery, who afforded me every 
facility for the inspection of the shops. 

The work turned out is of unusually high order. The workmen 
represent the best element among Italian mechanics, and I haye no 
hesitancy in expressing the opinion that the best class of Italian ma¬ 
chinists have no superiors in Europe. The men in the Labolatorio 
di Precisione are for the most part high-grade men, for there is very 
little room in such an establishment for other than skilled em¬ 
ployees. 

The material turned out is almost exclusively artillery equipment, 
and comprises range finders, position finders, gun directors, artillery 
ranging glasses, sights, gun-controlling gear, calipers, gages, and 
almost the entire gamut of highly precise material required for artil¬ 
lery direction. Workmen receive sums varying from 7 to 12 cents per 
hour, 10 hours constituting a day’s work. The shops open at 7 a. m. 
and close at 5 p. m., with an interval of 30 minutes at noon. 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN ITALY. 


167 


SMALL SHOWING OF AMERICAN TOOLS. 

Almost the first impression I received on entering the establish¬ 
ment was the very small showing of American tools. This is a plant 
which preeminently demands just those types of machines in which 
many American makers excel. It is not surprising to find in Euro¬ 
pean locomotive works, for example, many heavy tools of the rougher 
sort originating from the Continent, but in shops where great accu¬ 
racy is demanded there are few foreign tools of the medium size 
which can meet requirements so readily as the best grades of Ameri¬ 
can tools. One naturally questions why more machines from the 
United States are not in use in the Rome shops. The officials at the 
head of such a plant as Laboratorio di Precisione are naturally desir¬ 
ous of learning of new and meritorious tools. They are largely de¬ 
pendent on the manufacturer. If the latter has not made his prod¬ 
ucts known, then there can be no reason for surprise at his machines 
not being in service. I understand that the present officials at this 
arsenal have never received a visit from a director of an American 
plant. Representatives of American firms have called, but in nearly 
every case they were foreigners. 

My reception at the Laboratorio di Precisione was cordial in the 
extreme, and I enjoyed a full and comprehensive talk with both 
Colonel Bennati and Major Longo. The two officers spoke in very 
high terms of the splendid merits of those American machines which 
they are using. Major Longo, who is giving special attention to the 
machine-tool equipment, expressed the opinion that the arsenal is 
being called upon to pay too much for American machines. 

This question of prices charged abroad is one calling for personal 
attention on the part of principals of American firms. If agents are 
quoting correct figures, both manufacturer and buyer should know 
it. General-Director de Jong, of the Minerva Works at Antwerp, 
stated that by buying machine tools direct in the United States 
he could often save from 20 to 25 per cent. These figures, I was 
given to understand, included all items of outlay down to the actual 
placing of the machine tools on the Minerva floors. On the occasion 
of my visit to the Charleroi Electrical Works the statement was made 
that the normal prices (meaning standard prices) asked for Ameri¬ 
can machine tools were reasonable, and that if those prices were 
adhered to it would be to the interest of the American industry. 

I have heard this question of prices raised so frequently that it 
can not be ignored. If the foreign houses handling American ma¬ 
chine tools are unjustly charged, they should be set aright. The 
American manufacturers are alone in position to judge. 

AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN TOOLS IN SERVICE. 

The following American tools are in service in the Laboratorio di 
Precisione: 

F. E. Reed Co., Worcester, Mass-Lathes. 

Prentice Bros. Co., Worcester, Mass-3-spindle drill. 

Millers Falls Co., Millers Falls, Mass_Metal saw machine. 

Pratt & Whitney Co., Hartford, Conn-Drill. 

Hendey Machine Co.. Torrington, Conn-2 lathes. 

D. E. Whiton Co., New London, Conn-Chucks. 

Landis Tool Co., Waynesboro, Pa-Grinder. 

Hugo Bilgram, Philadelphia, Pa_Gear planer. 

Cincinnati Machine Tool Co., Cincinnati, Ohio-Drill. 

Cincinnati Milling Machine Co., Cincinnati-One universal miller, No. 1L 











168 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN ITALY. 


One of the 2 Henley lathes is of the turret type. In the above list, 
the Bilgram tool, I understand, was bought direct from the United 
States, yet there is the name of an Italian firm on a face plate on this 
tool. I observed a 3-spindle drill and a 2-foot power lathe, both ap¬ 
parently of American origin, but with names of makers not showing. 

The foreign tools in service are of French, English, Italian, and 
German origin, but German machines predominate. Greenwood & 
Batley, of Leeds, England, have supplied several universal spiral 
gear cutters. This firm, I understand, did considerable business with 
the Italian Government works in previous years, at a time when the 
Leeds house was regarded as one of the first in the building of arsenal 
tools. The Greenwood & Batley tools present are not of recent make. 
From Italian sources, Zust, of Laggo Maggiore, has supplied several 
lathes and millers, and there are a couple of planers from Ansaldo, 
of Turin, while Dubose & Co., also of Turin, have supplied a few 
tools. In the German representation there are milling machines from 
both Ludwig Loewe, Berlin, and the Wanderer Works, of Chemnitz. 
Kirchner, of Leipzig, has supplied practically all the wood-working 
machinery. I observed a Ludwig Loewe miller, which had recently 
arrived, so that it was evident that Loewe is being looked to just now 
for millers. In the forge shop there are pneumatic hammers from 
P. Pilkington, of Bamber Bridge, and Greenwood & Batley, of Leeds, 
England. Zuller & Zost have supplied a steam forge hammer. 

The engineers of the laboratory have designed and built several 
special tools of exceptional merit. One of these machines is for 
indexing dials. There are several vertical tracers in service, the 
design and build of the 1 arsenal. 

As might be expected, the general conditions with relation to sani¬ 
tation, light, and air are what one would expect to find in a modern 
and efficient government arsenal. The shops have metal overhead 
framing for all pulleys and belting, and the drive is electrical 
throughout. There is no attempt at speed or high output capacity, 
the shops being run solety to meet the army artillery demands and 
with every regard to accuracy. 

TERNI ARSENAL. 

The most important arsenal in Italy for the manufacture of mili¬ 
tary small arms is located in Terni. This is a government plant. 
The correct name of the works is Precisione d’Artiglieria della Fab- 
brica d’ Armi di Terni. 

I visited the Terni small-arms establishment and was received by 
Maj. Guglielmo Lucci, the vice-director in charge. Every facility 
was afforded me to inspect the shops, and I avail of this opportunity 
to make acknowledgments both to this officer and to Cav. Santo 
Galbardi, technical chief, who personally escorted me over the works. 

The general lay out of the plant is excellent. Modern type build¬ 
ing, good light, plenty of air, solid construction, electric drive 
throughout, no makeshifts or flimsy scantling; all these features are 
at once apparent, and the impression becomes fixed that the Terni 
works demand the best equipment obtainable, and yet, in the entire 
lot of 1,400 machine tools in service, there are only 10 American. 
In vain I looked for some of those American machines which for 
arsenal work are unexcelled. Turning to the technical chief, I asked 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN ITALY. 


169 


if any American manufacturers had ever called. He replied that 
since 1882 he had known but one American machine-tool man to visit 
the works. 

THE MACHINE TOOLS IN USE. 

The English firm of Greenwood & Batley, of Leeds, have sup¬ 
plied nearly 900 machine tools to Terni. This was in the early 
eighties. For the Terni installation the Leeds firm received, I un¬ 
derstand, about $386,000. Much of the Greenwood & Batley equip¬ 
ment is now old, and it is this material which must, in the general 
order of things, give way gradually to more modern and superior 
tools. When one considers that the Terni works are to Italy what 
the Springfield arsenal is to the United States, it will be appreciated 
that the importance of the former establishment is too great to admit 
of any but the best tools being employed. The rifling machines in 
service at Terni are mostly of the Jaspar type. In the Pieper Works, 
of Herstal, Belgium, Jaspar machines are being replaced by Pratt 
& Whitney riflers, and the latter machines are being operated by 
women. 

The only encouraging sign at Terni, so far as American machine 
tools are concerned, was the presence of a recently purchased Garvin 
milling machine. The technical chief spoke highly of this tool. In 
addition to the Garvin there are 2 lathes from the Bradford Machine 
Tool Company, of Cincinnati, 1 No. 1 Becker vertical miller, 4 
Becker-Brainard No. 2 vertical millers, and 2 turret lathes, also from 
the Bradford Company. The Garvin miller was supplied by Baldini 
& Co., of Pontedera, Italy. For the No. 2 Becker-Brainard millers, 
I understand that Terni paid 3,000 lira ($579) each, and for the 
No. 1 Becker vertical miller 5,500 lira ($1,062). 

The writer has visited several hundred manufacturing works in 
Europe, but has seldom seen a plant so apparently neglected by 
American manufacturers as the Terni small-arms works. The 
officers in charge here are keen to learn regarding the existence of 
all new and especially meritorious machines. My position would 
not permit any suggestions or recommendations, but I have no hesi¬ 
tancy in saying that there are many types of American machine 
tools which cotdd be introduced to advantage in the Terni shops. 
The situation is one calling for personal attention on the part of 
principals of American firms. 

All the screw machines in service at Terni are of the Greenwood & 
Batley type. Alfred Herbert (Limited), of Coventry, England, is 
represented by lathes, but aside from this firm and Greenwood & 
Batley, the tools in use are mostly German. 

ELECTRIC POWER-EMPLOYEES. 

The electric power utilized is obtained from hydraulic turbines. 
About 1,000 horsepower is required for driving purposes. This 
power is obtained from 8 water turbines. The number of men 
employed at the Terni works in May, 1909, was about 500. In 
case of need> this number can be increased to 2,000. A day’s work 
comprises 9 hours. The shops open at 7 a. m. and close at 5 p. m. 
The material turned out here is of the highest grade, and the require¬ 
ments on all sides are of an exacting character. The workmen are 
a credit to their officers and their country. 


FRANCE. 


ANDRE CITROEN & CO. 

% 

The cutting of double helical gears has been carried to an advanced 
stage by the Citroen shops of Paris. When in St. Petersburg recently 
it was learned that shops of that city were sending to Paris to have 
double helical gears cut. In the Warsaw district double helical gears 
were being cut by a machine controlled by the Wlochy Works near 
Warsaw. The writer visited the Citroen shops on November 20,1909, 
and was personally received by Mr. Andre Citroen and his associates, 
Messrs. Victor Heftier and A. Boas. In company with these three 
gentlemen he was shown over the works. 

Until recently it was necessary to round out by hand the curve at 
the bottom of the V in the helical gear. Now, however, this work, 
is performed automatically, and wheels which formerly required 200 
hours to cut are disposed of in 60 hours’ time. Not more than 5 
hours of hand work is required, it is declared, on a wheel. 

WELL SUPPLIED WITH WORK. 

The Citroen shops are working 40 men, and have in service 14 gear¬ 
cutting machines. These machines run from No. 1 to No. 6 in size. 
Two additional machines are now being built and will be ready for 
service in December. 

To judge from appearances the Citroen shops have more work on 
hand than they can at present handle, and Mr. Citroen says that 
he is able to turn out double the amount of work of the past year 
with one-half the force. This is due to the development of his ma¬ 
chines, whereby the rounding out of the base of the V is effected 
automatically. 

It was observed that the Citroen shops were engaged on some 
important orders for the Transvaal. The firm is also turning out 
gears for marine work for the French navy. 

Up to the present time Mr. Citroen has consented to only one 
machine being sold. This tool is installed in Brussels, Belgium. He 
prefers to confine his work to the cutting of gears rather than to the 
manufacture of machines for sale, but states that he is willing to 
enter into negotiations for the use of his machines in the United 
States, in which event he would send over a competent engineer to 
insure the proper working of the tools. 

ADVANTAGES OF HELICAL GEARING. 

On the subject of spur and bevel gears with double helical teeth, 
the Citroen shops lay stress on the fact that the great advantage of 
helical gearing is shown for particularly heavy powers. It is pointed 
170 



MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN FRANCE. 


171 


out that gears with straight teeth can not run without back lash, 
causing wear and vibration and undue noise at high speeds. In 
order to eliminate this back lash, single helical gearing was invented, 
and though this does away with noise, there is a disadvantage arising 
from side thrust, and consequent great loss of efficiency. It was in 
order to obviate side thrust that the double helical gearing was 
adopted many years ago. The principle of the gearing is to have 
two helical parts standing in opposite directions, the side thrust orig¬ 
inating through one part being counteracted by the thrust from the 
other. The advantages, claimed for the double helical gearing are 
absence of noise at high speeds and the obviating of back-lash 
shocks or vibration; also the reducing of friction and a consequent 
maximum of efficiency. The absence of friction tends to longevity. 
A still further advantage is that the helical-gears are recognized as 
being stronger, inasmuch as the surface of the teeth is greater. Here¬ 
tofore double helical gears were obtained in rough castings which, 
even when trimmed by hand, have not a true helical form, and consist, 
in fact, of only a tooth made up of two inclined straight parts. 
Under such circumstances the accuracy obtained was only approxi¬ 
mate. The angle at which these inclined parts were cast was a very 
wide one, and there generally was more wear on one tooth than on 
some other. The old double helical gears also made it impossible to 
get the tops of the teeth in the same circle, and this caused a consid¬ 
erable side movement and wore the shaftings, bearings, and machinery 
generally. 

One way of obtaining double helical gears was to take two single 
helical gears and to bolt them together. Gears so constructed did 
not permit of high power, inasmuch as there was soon caused a cer¬ 
tain play between the two halves. 

THE CITROEN DOUBLE HELICAL GEARS. 

Under the Citroen system the double helical gears are cut in one 
operation in the solid. It is claimed for this machine that the tool 
is perfectly accurate, as regards both the cutting and the dividing 
teeth, whether the gear be spur or bevel. The teeth have a true 
helical shape, the two helical parts standing in opposite directions. 
The teeth are cut at an angle of 45° to obtain the longest possible 
tooth surface and a maximum height. This affords an efficiency, it 
is claimed, of 98 per cent, and even more is guaranteed for both spur 
and bevel wheels. 

The Citroen gears are guaranteed noiseless up to the following 
speeds per minute: For gun metal, 3,400 feet; cast iron, 3,000 feet; 
steel, 1,800 feet. 

The company at present cuts double helical spur and bevel gears 
in any metal to any size up to 15 feet in diameter and 3 feet in width. 
In the Citroen shops may be seen pinions of which the teeth are 
shrouded either to the pitch line or completely. This, it is declared, 
has not been possible heretofore in cut gears. The Citroen tool cuts 
any pitch, even fractional, the advantage being that the exact pitch 
can be calculated according to the center distance in a given number 
of teeth. 

All gears are tested without load at the specified speed. I he test 
is made without load, since the noise in gearing is more apparent 
when they are allowed to run light. 



Fig. 29.—Citroen double helical gear in service. 

CHIEF USES OF DOUBLE HELICAL GEARS. 

The principal applications of the double helical gears are for high¬ 
speed transmissions, for shafting in factories, reduction gear, and 
turbines; for heavy-power transmissions in rolling mills, hydraulic 
presses, pumps, grinding and stamping machines; for transmissions 


172 MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN FRANCE. 


It is claimed that double helical gearing does away with the use of 
soft material, such as rawhide, paper, fiber or wooden cogs, which 
materials are often adopted to avoid noise in the gearing. 

By cutting the teeth at an angle of 45° the tooth is made stronger 
at the root than at the pitch circle. It is pointed out that in straight- 
tooth pinions of less than 30 teeth the reverse is the case. 








MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN FRANCE. 


173 


in which great regularity is a necessity, as in the case of steam en¬ 
gines, gas engines, textile and printing machines, steering and wind¬ 
ing gear. 

Under the Citroen system bevel gears with cut double helical teeth 
can not throw each other out of mesh and will, it is declared, draw 
each other into mesh. It is asserted that this system of double 
helical gear-cutting counteracts shaft expansion. In passing, the 
fact should be mentioned that Citroen is able to cut 5-tooth pinions. 
The cutting of gears of such a small number of teeth is in itself note¬ 
worthy. 

An Armstrong turning and boring lathe for heavy ordnance work, 
weighing 220 tons, has been installed in the Le Creusot shops, the 
double helical gears on which were cut by the Citroen shops. 


SALES METHODS. 


The best methods of exploiting the market for machine tools in 
Europe have been pointed out by men active in the field, among whom 
are Mr. Hugh Reid Griffin, a member of the board of directors of the 
American Chamber of Commerce of Paris and general director for 
Europe of the Johnston Harvester Company, of Batavia, N. Y.; 
Laurence Y. Benet, president of the American Chamber of Commerce 
of Paris and general director of the Hotchkiss Ordnance Company, 
of St. Denis, near Paris, and Mr. J. Ryan, agent in France for the 
Potter & Johnston Machine Company, of Pawtucket, R. I. 

Mr. Griffin’s experience abroad covers more than 25 years, and 
consists of a personal knowledge of nearly all the countries on the 
Continent. He believes that the sale of American machinery and 
machine tools abroad can best be accomplished through the control 
of Americans on the spot. He strongly advocates the utilization 
of the best local talent, but declared that Americans should be at 
the head of affairs. In the case of his own company, the policy 
followed in Franee is to reach as far as possible the small dealers. In 
no instance, however, does his firm undertake to do a retail business. 

JOHNSTON HARVESTER COMPANY’S PLAN. 

Under the plan at present followed in France, it is the practice of 
the Johnston Harvester Company to plat small districts, and in these 
limited areas to avail of local merchants; in other words, the practice 
is very similar to what is followed in America. Mr. Griffin points 
out that the general tendency of Americans in doing business abroad 
is to give too large a territory to one agent. This, he believes, is a 
very great mistake, and, speaking for his own company, the general 
experience is that the best results are obtained from parceling out a 
territory after the manner at present followed, that is to say, when 
a company has its organization thoroughly established in a country. 
Mr. Griffin’s views should be taken as appertaining more especially 
to France. 

Mr. Griffin concedes that there is a distinction to be observed in 
the sale of agricultural implements and machine tools, but he firmly 
believes that this distinction tends all the more to personal repre¬ 
sentation on the part of Americans. He finds in the case of agri¬ 
cultural implements that it is necessary to employ expert machinists, 
who are charged with traveling from'point to point and inspecting 
machines as mounted by the local dealers. He cites cases where his 
machines were criticised and where the trouble lay entirely with 
faulty mounting. Under his direction salesmen and" expert machin¬ 
ists are kept constantly traveling, and he knows exactly at all times 
the whereabouts of these representatives. 

In a very few cases only does his company undertake to consign 
machines to dealers. The'rule is followed of shipping direct from 
174 


SALES METHODS. 


175 


the United States to Marseilles, Bordeaux, and Havre. From these 
seaports the goods are forwarded to the interior to the best advantage. 
Mr. Griffin declares that the cost of transport from New York to a 
French port, and thence by rail, provided a careful system is worked 
out, is even far less than the expense which a local maker must meet 
when distributing from a factory in the center of France, say, to an 
extreme point in Franee. Harvesting machinery is delivered free to 
all stations in France. 

SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS-THE OUTLOOK. 

Mr. Griffin says that business in general in European Russia has 
been exceptionally good during 1909, and his reports from Russia 
indicate that the business in agricultural implements has been phe¬ 
nomenally good during the same period; in fact, it would seem as if 
1909 will be counted a record year in Russia for American agricul¬ 
tural implements. 

Mr. Griffin is very hopeful for the future, and he believes that with 
the adjustment of the new tariff laws between the United States and 
France a bright era will open up for American export trade. The 
experience of his firm in selling agricultural implements should be, 
he thinks, of value, from a comparative standpoint, for American 
machine-tool manufacturers. He is convinced that in order to 
effect the maximum of sales it is necessary personally to visit the 
works, and that results can best be accomplished where American 
expert machinists undertake to demonstrate the working possibilities 
of machine tools. 

Mr. Griffin declares that the policy of dealing with smaller agents 
after ground has been broken is the result of competition, or the fact 
that larger agents try for too large profits. Where a trade is worked, 
as in France, the factory has to hold stock at various points to meet 
orders as they come. This, Mr. Griffin says, is expensive and involves 
a special organization. Harvesting machinery, he points out, has 
been sold in Europe since 1858, and machine tools have had a much 
shorter record of activity. Quick deliveries, he thinks, can only be 
made if stock is held at a convenient point. Wholesale agents who 
buy quantities order early and hold stock, but Mr. Griffin says that 
finding out what is wanted, or demonstrating that the article which 
one has is better than those in general use, is the real pioneer work, 
and that Americans in pushing agricultural machinery have been 
most successful and they should be successful in many other lines. 

PIONEER WORK SELLING AGRICULTURAL MACHINES. 

Mr. Griffin says that when he first came to Europe he visited parts 
of the Continent where neither mower nor reaper had been heard of, 
and at such points arranged for demonstrations, and always with suc¬ 
cess. In Poland a reaper was attacked by a mob as bewitched, but 
this superstition was easily overcome, and 25 machines were sold as 
a result, while the sale of’hundreds followed. Mr. Griffin added: 

We have, of course, made changes to suit local wants, and trade has been 
collected by the parceling of districts, and securing agents who sell to farmers 
and who are workers. The machine-tool business suffers now from competi¬ 
tion, and foreign houses handle American tools and copies, the latter sometimes 


176 


SALES METHODS 



nearly as good, and with slight changes to suit special work or custom. The 
American manufacturer who through live Americans follows his trade closely 
will secure the best chance. Tariffs, in my judgment, will adjust themselves. 

Mr. Griffin seems to think that there is no time so opportune as the 
present for developing the foreign market, and he emphasizes the 
fact that the United States is now producing more than the home 
market buys, and that the cultivation of the foreign market is a 
national duty. 


VIEWS OF PRESIDENT OF CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. 


Few men are better posted on the subject of the sale of American 
machine tools abroad than President Laurence V. Benet, of the 
American Chamber of Commerce in Paris. 

Mr. Benet was asked to indicate what steps, in his opinion, 
should be taken by American machine-tool interests to insure their 
full share in the European market. Speaking with reference more 
especially to France, Mr. Benet declared that American manufac¬ 
turers, or American selling agencies, must send their own men into 
the foreign territory. These representatives should be expert ma¬ 
chinists. The business, Mr. Benet declared, must be sought out, and 
he declared it as his conviction that the general run of European 
manufacturers do not know their own needs. Expert tool men, 
understanding the full capacity of the products they represented, are 
required to bring the facts home to the foreign shop officials. He 
cited that in his own case he had had occasion very recently to 
make inquiries for gear cutters. He could not find in all Paris 
anyone to demonstrate to him the value of certain American gear 
planers. He had been using Reinecker (German) machines, and 
was not satisfied with the equipment. He was under the necessity of 
going to England, and found an American gear planer in the hands 
of an English agency. This agency could tell him practically noth¬ 
ing about the tool; nevertheless he purchased the machine and in¬ 
stalled it in the shops at St. Denis. “ It will now be necessary,” he 
remarked, “to worry along w T ith this tool as best we can and hope 
that we may eventually discover its capacity.” 


REPRESENTATIVE SHOULD BE AN EXPERT. 


Mr. Benet said: 

There is an enormous field in France to-day for American machine tools, but 
the machines can not be sold through commercial agencies on any such basis 
as one would sell groceries. The Potter & Johnston Company, of Pawtucket, 
R. I., has sold probably more machine tools in France than any one American 
firm, agency, or combination. That company has kept in the field here one man, 
and one man only, but this representative makes a practice of personally cover¬ 
ing the manufacturing plants of the country. He is familiar with every detail 
of his line, and knows better than the manufacturer what the manufacturer 
wants. He sells only one machine. All his interests are centered in that one 
tool. He is constantly on the lookout for trade for his particular machine. He 
is an expert in its manipulation. No commercial agent can possibly excel him 
in the representation of the possibilities of the tool. No stock is kept on hand, 
and in consequence the selling expenses are reduced to a minimum. 

The method followed by Potter & Johnston commends itself to every manm 
facturer of good machine tools in America. It is not necessary to open in France 
expensive warerooms. Machine tools are not household commodities. The situ¬ 
ation is one requiring the presence on the ground of an expert man for each type 


SALES METHODS. 


177 


of tool, whose duty should be to personally visit the works and keep traveling. 
Such a man will be welcome wherever he goes, and what Potter & Johnston 
have done others can do. 

It is a great mistake to turn machine-tool representation over to agents, who 
are handling a varied line of machines. My own experience is that the majority 
of these agents do not understand the machines they are selling, and in the case 
of those agents who are also manufacturing on their own account there is al¬ 
ways a tendency to push articles of their particular manufacture. 

FOREIGN LANGUAGE GREAT AID, BUT NOT A NECESSITY. 

• 

On the subject of foreign languages, Mr. Benet says that a knowl¬ 
edge of the language of the country in which it is attempted to exploit 
machinery or other goods is certainly a very great aid, and while not 
desiring to be understood as in any way failing to appreciate the value 
of such knowledge, he wishes to make it clear that without a knowl¬ 
edge of the language an American is able to do business which a 
foreign agent of American goods will not perhaps be able to accom¬ 
plish in spite of doing business in his own language. Mr. Benet said 
that Mr. Hotchkiss, the founder of the Hotchkiss Ordnance Com¬ 
pany in France, hardly knew a word of French, and yet he was con¬ 
stantly brought in contact with leading officials of the French Gov¬ 
ernment. 

Mr. Benet states that he would also call attention to the German 
practice of exploiting German products abroad through Germans, 
and he pointed out that no one who has traveled extensively and has 
observed the wonderful development of German commerce, has not 
been struck by the fact that German experts, travelers, and agents 
are to be found in all parts of the world, speaking the language of 
the country, adapting themselves to the customs of the country, and 
sending home such information as will enable their principals to cater 
to local requirements. Mr. Benet believes that American machine- 
tool interests should not hold good men back from going abroad be¬ 
cause they do not speak French. A knowledge of that language or 
of any other language, he pointed out, can be acquired, and it should 
ahvays be remembered that a good tool demonstration largely talks 
for itself. 

President Benet is emphatic in stating that the sale of American 
machine tools should be wholly in American hands—at least the con¬ 
trol or direction of the selling arrangements. He took occasion to 
refer to the success of Mr. J. Ryan, of the Potter & Johnston Machine 
Company, Pawtucket, R. I. 

VIEWS OF MR. J. RYAN. 

The writer had the pleasure of an extended conversation with Mr. 
Ryan, who has been selling Potter & Johnston tools in France for 
the past five years. The machines handled by him are automatic 
turret turning and chucking machines. 

In the year 1907 Mr. Ryan sold in France $400,000 worth of ma¬ 
chine tools, and in that period has turned in orders exclusively from 
France for more than 400 Potter & Johnston automatic machines, 
representing a total business of more than $1,000,000. Asked what 
methods he had employed in securing this large volume of trade, Mr. 
Ryan replied that he personally visited the French manufacturing 

H. Doc. 913, 61-2-12 


178 


SALES METHODS. 


works and sought out the directors. He maintains no warehouse or 
stock room. His offices are located on the Avenue de la Grande 
Armee, near the Porte Maillot, and his office force consists of two 
people besides himself. 

Before taking over the Potter & Johnston representation in France, 
Mr. Ryan was chief engineer of the Bayard A. Clement Automobile 
Works, located at Levallois, near Paris. He had bought several of 
the Potter & Johnston machines for use in the Clement shops and be¬ 
came enthusiastic over the results obtained. He left the Clement 
Works to take up the sale of Potter & Johnston machines. Fie spoke 
appreciatively of Mr. Clement’s kindness in affording him permission 
to show prospective buyers the workings of the Potter & Johnston 
tools in the Clement establishment, and says that he was greatly aided 
by the help and good will of Mr. A. Clement. “ There was a distinct 
advantage,” Mr. Ryan says, “ in being able to point out the various 
features of the Potter & Johnston tools at work in comparison with 
other equipment which was considered modern.” 

PERSONAL DEMONSTRATIONS MAKE SALES. 

Mr. Ryan does not believe in a stock-room exhibit; in other words, 
running a tool in some showroom. He has very little sympathy with 
the idea that machine tools can be sold as commodities. He has 
found from actual experience that his best sales have been secured in 
consequence of personal visits to the works and by indicating at first 
hand what the machines are capable of doing. The writer can con¬ 
firm the accuracy of these views from many voluntary expressions 
which he has heard on the part of French directors regarding Mr. 
Ryan’s forcefulness. More than one director is recalled who, during 
the past year, stated that he had absolutely no idea of buying auto¬ 
matic machines until the subject was brought to his attention by that 
gentleman and his interest aroused. 

In every case Mr. Ryan has given guaranties of the working possi¬ 
bilities of the machines, and he has seldom been satisfied until he has 
induced a prospective buyer to accompany him to some installation 
point where, in person, he has worked a machine to its full efficiency. 
Herein lies one of the chief points of advantage—an expert mechanical 
knowledge coupled with the essentials of a good sales agent. Mr. 
Ryan says that he has never been content to sell less than three ma¬ 
chines, claiming that if an automatic turret turning and chucking 
lathe was desirable, then there should be at least three of these ma¬ 
chines in service in order to develop the series work to its full capacity. 

The testimony of French manufacturers has been that a man like 
Mr. Ryan is something more than a mere salesman. He has shown 
them how to develop the capacity of their plants. 

OUTLOOK GOOD IN FRANCE AND ENGLAND. 

When asked what, in his opinion, was the outlook for the sale of 
American machine tools in Europe, Mr. Ryan replied that, so far as 
France was concerned, he felt that there was a greater field for the 
sale of American machine tools than in the past; he believed, however, 
that the sale of these machines could not be accomplished as easily as 
m former days, owing to cheap foreign competition, but, assuming 






SALES METHODS. 


179 


always that the tools offered by American manufacturers possess 
merit, he is convinced that it is possible to greatly enhance the sale of 
tools in this country. American machine tools, he declared, are in high 
favor, and it is only necessary for Americans to get personally out 
among the works in order to sell the tools. The business, he declared, 
will not come to one, and for this reason he believes in discouraging 
any attempt at warehousing of material. He does not recommend 
that machine topis be assigned to firms handling tools of their own 
manufacture, for he thinks it but natural for such firms to push 
their own products. 

Mr. Ryan, who was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., and is an American 
citizen, speaks French fluently, but at the same time he declares that 
because a man does not speak French is not sufficient reason why he 
should not be sent abroad. 

Mr. Ryan has recently undertaken to extend his operations into 
England, and he declared that he believes there is an enormous field in 
the United Kingdom for the sale of American machine tools. He did 
not appreciate this fact until he had personally commenced to exploit 
that territory. 

In general, Mr. Ryan is exceedingly optimistic regarding the fu¬ 
ture for machine tools in Europe. He does not believe that Ameri¬ 
cans should undertake to manufacture in this territory, at least not 
for the present, and believes that good American machine tools can 
always be sold on the Continent in competition with cheaper foreign 
makes. 

In conclusion, it may be added that, prior to Mr. Ryan’s taking 
charge of Potter & Johnston’s business, the French agency was in 
the hands of a local man who had sold in two years’ time one machine. 


. 

. 









■ 









SPECIAL AGENTS SERIES—No. 34. 


SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT 

ON 

MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN RUSSIA. 


GODFREY L. CARDEN, 

Special Agent, Department of Commerce and Labor. 


181 















MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN RUSSIA. 


KOLOMNA MACHINE COMPANY. 

EARLY HISTORY OF LOCOMOTIVE-BUILDING ESTABLISHMENT. 

The plant of the Kolomna Machine Works Company is one of the 
most important locomotive-building concerns of the kind in the 
Russian Empire. The works are located near the station and monas¬ 
tery, Golutvin, on the Moscow-Kasan Railway, about 109 versts 
(72 miles) east-southeast of Moscow. Near Golutvin is the more 
important town of Kolomna, and it is from the latter that the works 
take their name. Through the courtesy of the president of the com¬ 
pany, Mr. B. Lessing, an inspection of the plant was made under the 
personal escort of General Director Alexandre Belonoschkin. 

The founder of the establishment was Mr. Armand Struve, a tal¬ 
ented military engineer, whose services had been especially employed 
in bridge building. In 1862 Mr. Struve undertook to build an iron 
bridge across the Oka River for the Moscow-Kasan Railway. For 
the purpose of constructing different parts of the bridge, he estab¬ 
lished an iron foundry and a blacksmith shop near the confluence 
of the rivers Moskva and Oka. The Kolomna works date their origin 
from the establishment of this shop. Two years later Mr. Struve 
associated with himself his brother Gustav Struve, and the business 
was conducted Under the firm name of Struve Brothers. A little 
later a partnership was formed with Mr. Lessing, who brought to the 
firm a valuable commercial experience. 

From 1862 to 1869 Messrs. Struve were largely engaged in the 
building of bridges and freight cars. At that period locomotive 
works did not exist in Russia, and all locomotives were necessarily 
bought abroad; but in 1869 the Struve shops constructed a freight 
locomotive, which was one of the first built in Russia. The venture 
was successful and orders for more followed. In 1872 the firm was 
reorganized under the title of The Kolomna Machine Works Company, 
and as such continues until the present day. In 1873 the company 
acquired a metallurgic works at Koulebaki. The products from the 
Koulebaki works are transported to the Oka River by a narrow-gage 
railway, and from there to the Kolomna works, by water in sum¬ 
mer and by railway in winter. 

CAPITALIZATION—SIZE OF PLANTS—EMPLOYEES—PRODUCTS. 

The company is capitalized at 10,000,000 rubles ($5,150,000) and 
the reserve capital amounts to 2,600,000 rubles ($1,339,000). The 
annual output of the plant at Kolomna, which embraces an area of 
150 acres, 21 of which are covered bv the shops, is valued at approxi¬ 
mately 12,500,000 rubles ($6,437,500). The metallurgic works at 

183 



184 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN RUSSIA. 


Koulebaki cover an area of 5,300 acres and employ about 3,000 men. 
The value of the annual output is estimated at 3,500,000 rubles 
($1,802,500). At both plants the management of the company has 
erected many buildings for the workmen, including schools for work¬ 
men’s children, hospitals, dining rooms, vapor baths, playhouses, 
clubs, libraries, and many lodgings. 

The Kolomna works were empk^ing in October, 1909, about 6,800 
men and the output of locomotives is about 20 per month, all for 
Russian orders and mostly for the state railways. The output has 
been as high as one per da}^, and this rate, it is claimed, is greater 
than that of any other locomotive establishment in Russia. 

The various products of the Kolomna works embrace locomotives 
of various types, cars for passenger and freight service, street rail¬ 
way cars, and oil tank cars. The output of freight and oil cars aver¬ 
ages 1,800 per year, and of passenger cars about 180. Still other 
products are iron bridges, river steamboats, steam dredgers, barges 
and ice boats, locomobiles, peat presses, steam engines and boilers, 
and Diesel oil engines. Machine tools for special work are also made, 
but the shops necessarily draw on outside sources for the great bulk 
of the machine tools required. 

Most of the departments at the Kolomna works are run on a 24-hour 
day schedule, but the number of hours required of any one workman 
is ten. The total number of buildings comprised in the works is 39. 
At the present time about 4,300 horsepower is utilized in running 
the plant. The fuel consumption per week is approximately 225 tons 
of oil and 228 tons of coal. 

All parts of locomotives and steam engines, except boiler tubes 
and special patented appliances, are made from raw materials 
received at the works. In constructing locomotives, plate frames 
are generally used. 

TYPES OF LOCOMOTIVES MANUFACTURED. 

The principal types of locomotives built by the Kolomna works 
comprise the following: Ten-wheel freight tandem compound; eight- 
wheel freight; eight-wheel passenger tandem compound; ten-wheel 
passenger with Schmidt superheater; eight-wheel passenger com¬ 
pound; six-coupled tank engine; eight-coupled tank engine; ten-wheel 
passenger compound, Mallet system. 

The gage to which all locomotives for Russian service are built is 
1,524 millimeters, or 5 feet. The locomotives are designed to burn 
wood, coal, or oil, the fuel used being determined largely by the terri¬ 
tory in which the locomotive operates. As a rule the Kolomna loco¬ 
motives are operated at 14 atmospheres pressure. Schmidt’s super¬ 
heaters are largely used, most of the engines fitted with them being 
employed on the Moscow-Kasan line. The Mallet type of locomo¬ 
tives is also being handled. 

The principal dimensions of the ten-wheel freight tandem compound, 
and the ten-wheel passenger with Schmidt superheater, are as follows: 



MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN RUSSIA. 


185 


Locomotive and tender. 


Freight. 

Passenger. 

LOCOMOTIVE. 






5 

5 

Weight in working order. 


132,740 

144,730 

Weight on drivers. 


114,900 

94,290 

Wheel base driving (rigid). 


168 

162 

Wheel base, total. 


257.9 

308.6 

Height (center of boiler above rails). 


94.4 

98.4 

Diameter of cylinders: 




High pressure. 


15.75 

20.47 

Low pressure. 


23.62 


Stroke ofpiston. 


23.62 

23.62 

Drivers. 


8 

6 

Diameter: 




Drivers. 


50 

66.93 

Truck wheels. 


29.53 

40.55 

Boiler inside at smallest ring. 

.do_ 

59.05 

57.87 

Working steam pressure. 

.pounds.. 

170 

170 

Tubes: 




Number. 


235 

176 

Outside diameter. 


1.96 

2 

Length over tube sheets. 

.do_ 

169.3 

179 

Heating surface: 




Fire box. 


122 

137.5 

Tubes. 


1,714 

1,385.5 

Total. 

.do — 

1,836 

1,523 

Grate area. 

.do.... 

27.4 

25.26 

TENDER. 




Wheels: 




Diameter. 

.inches.. 

45.28 

39.76 

Base. 

.do_ 

137.8 

131 

Water capacity. 

.cubic feet.. 

530 

494 

Weight: 




Empty. 

.pounds.. 

36, 465 

40,785 

Loaded. 

.do_ 

85,100 

84, 440 

Total wheel base of engine and tender.. 


551.7 

548.5 


The Allan system of valve gears is used on the freight locomotives 
and the Walshaert system on the passenger. Friedman injectors 
and generally Westinghouse brakes are used on both, although engines 
for the Moscow-Kasan line and some others have the New York brake. 

AMERICAN MACHINE TOOLS IN SERVICE. 

The number of machine tools installed at the Kolomna works is 
approximately 1,020. The American tools in use include the fol¬ 
lowing : 

Mark Flather Planer Co., Nashua, N. H. ...2 planers. 

Prentice Bros. Co., Worcester, Mass.3 vertical drills, lathes, vertical 

miller. 

H. Fisher, Worcester.Lathe. 

Norton Grinding Co., Worcester.2 grinders, Blotter. 

L. Robbing, Worcester.Lathe. 

F. E. Reed Co., Worcester...4 lathes. 

Brown & Sharpe Manufacturing Co., Providence, 

R. I.Vertical miller. 

Bullard Machine Tool Co., Bridgeport, Conn.Vertical miller. 

Pratt & Whitney, Hartford.2 turret lathes. 

New Haven Manufacturing Co., New Haven.4 lathes. 

Hendey Machine Co., Torrington.Lathe. 

Niles-Bement-Pond, New York.Vertical drill, vertical miller, Blot¬ 

ter. 

Landis Tool Co., Waynesboro, Pa.Grinder. 

American Tool Works Co., Cincinnati, Ohio.Radial drill. 

Cincinnati Milling Machine Co., Cincinnati.Miller. 

Davis & Egan, Cincinnati.5 turret lathes, 2 bolt cutters. 

Dreses, Muller & Co., Cincinnati.Radial drill. 

Bickford Drill and Tool Co., Cincinnati.Universal drill, drill. 

G. A.'Gray Company, Cincinnati.5 planers. 

Warner & Swasey Co., Cleveland.2 turret lathes. 

Gisholt Machine Co., Madison, Wis.Turret lathe. 





























































186 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN RUSSIA. 


FOREIGN TOOLS IN USE. 

Among the foreign tools in evidence are the following: 

Billeter & Klunz, Germany, open-side planer; Atlas Works, Stockholm, radial drill; 
F. Schultz, Mulhausen, horizontal borer; Phoenix Works, St. Petersburg, radial drill, 
heavy lathe; Pitler, Leipzig, spiral gear cutter; Giernacky, Chemnitz, hob machine; 
Alfred Herbert (Limited), Coventry, England, turret lathe, No. 8 vertical miller; 
Wagner & Co., Dortmund, horizontal borer; Friedrich Schmaltz, Offenbach, interior 
surface grinder; B. & S. Massey, Manchester, hammer; Pokorny & Wiettkind, Frank¬ 
fort, compressors; Kendall & Gent, Manchester, slab millers; Ernst Schiess, Dusseldorf, 
various tools; Felser, Riga, heavy tools; Smith & Coventry, Manchester, vertical 
millers; Droop & Rein, Bielefeld, double shaper; Chemnitz Works, Chemnitz, planers; 
Pneumatic Tool Co., St. Petersburg, compressors; Fetu-Defize, Liege, vertical miller; 
Reinecker, Chemnitz, millers; Fairbairn, Naylor & Co., England, Blotters. 

Felser, of Riga, has supplied a large planer with a bed 10 meters 
long and 4 meters wide, which cost 45,000 rubles ($23,175), and one 
heavy lathe having a length of 12 meters and a diameter of head 1.3 
meters, which cost 23,000 rubles ($11,845). There is one horizontal 
boring machine in service supplied by Sondermann & Stier, which cost 
18,415 rubles ($9,483). The stroke of the borer of this machine is 

6 feet 6 inches and the lift of the spindle 4 feet 3 inches. A radial 
drill supplied by the same firm cost 5,500 rubles ($2,832). A radial 
drill supplied by. Schuchardt & Schutte, having a length of arm of 

7 feet, cost 8,000 rubles ($4,120). 

The prices paid for some of the important tools of foreign origin 
purchased by the Kolomna works within the last six years were as 
follows: 


Name of maker. 


Type and dimensions. 


Droop & Rein, Bielefeld. 

Do. 

Do. 

Hartmann, Chemnitz. 

Deutsch Niles Werke, Berlin. 

Reinecker, Chemnitz. 

Do. 

Leipzgier Werkzeugmaschinenfa- 
brik. 

Weichelt, Mosnon. 

Loreur, Octlinger, Baden. 

Ludwig Loewe, Berlin. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Sondermann & Stier. 


Lathe, height of center 40”. 

Radial drill, spindle, , lift 8". 

Radial drill. 

Lathes for axles (2), height of centers 18”, 
length 9' 10”. 

Lathes (2), height of center 18”, length 9'. 

Grinder, length lOf”, height 12”.. 

Lathes (7), height of center 9”, length 64”. 

Turret lathes (2), height of center 10”, length 
48”. 

Lathe, height of center 71”, length 38”. 

Lathe, height of center 10”, length 84”. 

Lathe,heightofcenter 15”, length 70”. 

Millers (2), height of center 7”, length 40”. 

Vertical borers (2), lift 5' 6”. 

Turret lathe, height of center 10J” length 4 '... 
Miller (and drill), stroke 6' 6”, lift of spindle 
4' 3”. 


Ernst Schiess, Dusseldorf. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Wm. Muir & Co., Manchester. 
Do. 


Radial drill, spindle 4”, lift 18”. 

Lathe forcranks, height of center 48”. 

Lathe for crank shafts, height of center 24”, 
length 32'. 

Lathe, height of center 26”, length 14' 6”. 

Planer, stroke 8' 4”. 

Planer, stroke 14' 6”. 

Slotter, lift 8”. 


When 

pur¬ 

chased. 

Price 
delivered 
in Go- 
lutvin. 

1906 

$1,738 

1906 

590 


1,687 

1906 

2,626 

1905 

2,271 

1905 

1,493 

1906 

963 

1906 

904 

1906 

404 

1906 

1,336 

1906 

1,792 

1906 

1,390 

1907 

6,154 

1906 

1,519 

1906 

9,984 

1903 

1,988 

1903 

2,522 

1902 

6,476 

1903 

3,798 

1906 

5,768 

1906 

3,801 

1906 

1,133 


In the central power station there are three Curtiss turbine engines 
of 2,200 kilowatts, built by the Allgemeine Elektricitaetsgesellschaft, 
of Berlin, three engines made by the Willans & Robinson, of Rugby, 
England, and three steam engines made by Gebruder Sulzer, of Win¬ 
terthur, Switzerland. 





















































MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN RUSSIA. 


187 


OPPORTUNITY FOR EXTENDING AMERICAN TRADE. 

The writer was very strongly impressed with the fact that the value 
of American machine tools, in general, had not been brought home, 
or at any rate not successfully, at this great plant. Director Belon- 
oschkin has in comparatively recent times become active manager 
of the plant. He is a man of high technical attainment, progressive, 
and laudably ambitious to make the Kolomna works second to none 
in point of efficiency and in economy of production. Such a manager 
will, in my opinion, warmly welcome any representation regarding 
machine tools that possess merit and afford economy in work. Direc¬ 
tor Belonoschkin speaks French fluently and possesses, in addition, 
engineers who are well versed in English. Under such circumstances 
there is no valid reason why the best American tools should not be 
made familiar at the Kolomna plant, provided American machine- 
tool houses see that this establishment is provided with the necessary 
literature. Before coming to the Kolomna works, Director Belonosch¬ 
kin was on the staff of the great Putiloff works at St. Petersburg. 

Recently there has been built a superb machine-erecting building. 
The material is steel and cement throughout, with all the modern 
features for light, sanitation, and heating. This new building will 
necessarily require new tools, although for the present Director 
Belonoschkin is under the necessity of installing many old machines 
from other portions of the works. That the plant has installed as 
many as 10 planers of the Gray type is sufficient proof that tools of 
merit are demanded, for from the information I have generally 
received the Gray machines are regarded as the most expensive 
American planers offered in Europe. 

The Pneumatic Tool Company, of St. Petersburg, which is operated 
by an American, has succeeded in installing some compressors here, 
and pneumatic tools will also be ordered. Some of the best grades 
of American boring machines, radial drills, and vertical millers could 
with advantage be brought to the attention of the Kolomna manage¬ 
ment. 

SHIPBUILDING DEPARTMENT. 

The building of river steamers, barges, and dredges is an important 
feature of the Kolomna works, and not the less interesting because 
this shipbuilding is carried on in almost the center of European 
Russia. At this time of year (October, 1909) the Oka River is quite 
low. The writer expressed some astonishment at finding vessel 
hulls at considerable distance from the river banks and within appar¬ 
ently landlocked basins. The general director explained that by the 
time the vessels under construction were ready for launching, namely, 
in the spring of 1910, the Oka River would have a depth of fully 33 
feet, and not only would the banks of the river reach the yard’s limits, 
but the vessels would be lifted out of the basins by the rising of the 
stream. The spring freshets in central Russia generally greatly 
increase the depth of the streams. 

Most of the vessels building at the Kolomna works are constructed 
for service on the Volga River and the Caspian Sea. The barges are 
especially designed for use in the transportation of crude oil and have 
two Diesel engines of 600 horsepower each. The writer observed 
one fine steel-hulled barge in course of construction, having a length 


188 


MACHINE-TOOL TRADE IN RUSSIA. 


of 380 feet, an extreme beam of 46 feet, an extreme depth of hold of 
25 feet, and with a carrying capacity of 4,000 tons of oil. The work¬ 
manship on this barge is of as high a character as will be found in the 
best American lake shipbuilding establishments. 

In company with General Director Belonoschkin, the writer boarded 
one of the newly built river steamers lying in the Oka directly off the 
works. This vessel was constructed for towing purposes. It is a.side- 
wheel steamer, and the writer understands that the price obtained 
was 265,000 rubles ($136,475). The principal dimensions of this ves¬ 
sel are: Length, 178 feet; width, 32 feet; depth of hold, 8 feet 6 inches; 
maximum draft of water with all stores on board, 3J feet. There are 
two engines of the Diesel motor type of 800 horsepower. This vessel is 
designed to tow 2 barges, having a total capacity in the tow of 
1,000,000 poods (pood = 36.112 pounds). The bar pull on the towing 
bitts is estimated to be 15£ tons. Director Belononschkin declared 
that the Diesel engines, using oil, are an ideal type for this kind of 
craft. The cost of operating these engines in service, when towing, 
is 0.4 kopek per horsepower per hour (ruble =100 kopeks = 51 $ 
cents). 

The writer observed a second towing steamer, which had been pre¬ 
pared for transport down the Oka River, under the assistance of 
pontoons. The entire hull of the vessel was inclosed in balks in 
order to lighten the draft. This is necessary in order to take the 
craft over the shoals which exist in the river at this time of the year. 
Pneumatic tools were employed in the construction of this river barge, 
but no American pneumatic tools are in use. 

CONSTRUCTION OF MOTORS-WAGE SCALE. 

The building of Diesel motors is another important adjunct to 
this great plant, and I was particularly interested in some new features 
connected with the utilization of these Diesel engines in the central 
power station. 

The average daily wages paid by the Kolomna works for various 
classes of mechanics are as follows: 


Class of workmen. 

Wages. 

Class of workmen. 

Wages. 

Lathe men. 

Rubles. 

2.02 

Radial-drill men 

Rubles. 
1.63 
1.20 
2.16 
1.89 
.70 
2.00 

Milling-machine men. 

1.60 

Grinding-machine men 

Vise men. 

1.49 

Planer hands_ 

Turret-lathe men. 

2.02 

Boring-mill men. . 

Holders. 

1.31 

Laborers 

Assembling men. 

2.26 

Blacksmiths... 




Note.— The foregoing report was delayed in transmission and was received too 
late to be included in the monograph, “Machine-tool Trade in Austria-Hungary, 
Denmark, Russia, and Netherlands.” 


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